Pleasant Words

Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

2015-01-07T10:20:00.001-05:00

God's Words:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

~Proverbs 16:3

Just as a head's up, this post pertains to homeschooling. So if you don't homeschool, I suppose this post won't interest you much... Sorry! But stay tuned for future posts that might actually apply to your life.

Two school years ago, after much frustration with my hopeless search of finding a homeschool planner that works for my family, I finally gave up and created my own. And since it is the new year and I assume we all are in need of a fresh start at organization, I thought I would share my planner on my blog, in case you might be able to benefit from using it for your homeschool.

The planner I created is specifically designed to be used by independent homeschool students. However, if your child(ren) aren't independent learners yet, I suppose the planner could be adapted to be used as the teacher's weekly planner. That would just take a little tweaking. See instructions for this below. Either way, I hope you can make it work for you and your student(s).

What is this independent learning, you say? Would that mean less school time involvement required of mom (and dad)? Well, yes, yes it does. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Imagine getting more housework done during the day, instead of it piling up all week long because you're already too busy personally teaching all the school lessons.

Getting my children to eventually be independent learners in their schoolwork has always been one of my goals of homeschooling. They will definitely need to be able to study and work on their own once they're in high school and college, so why not get an early start in training them to do so?

Once my eldest child started 6th grade, I felt it was time to get him used to completing most of his individual assignments independently. And my then 6th grader is now an 8th grader, with his 7th and 5th grade sisters not far behind him, who are both also doing mostly independent work. We do a few subjects with all my children together, such as Bible, history, health, and geography. But I wanted my middle-schoolers to have an organized, easy-to-use student planner that would help them be more independent with all their individual studies. And free up my time to actually get most of my housework done each day. Whoo-hoo! Never thought I'd be so happy about that...

Here is what the independent student weekly planner page looks like:

There are check mark boxes, which the student checks off himself when finished with each assignment, so that Mom can easily see what has already been done (or not done) and also so that the student can quickly see which assignments need to be done next.

The first table, "My Daily Assignments", includes the assignments that must get done each day, such as Bible memory work, reading, and music practice.

What I love most about this student planner is the second table, "My Weekly Assignments", which lists all the subjects that the student can work on whenever he chooses, as long as he gets all assignments done by a certain time at the end of each week. Our family rule is that you must get all independent work done by 3:00PM each Friday or you will lose all "screen time" for the entire weekend. I don't even have to tell you that we've never had anyone break that rule.

So for example, one week he might want to do all his math lessons in 2 days, with none to do for the remainder of the week. Or all his grammar assignments in one day. You see, it's up to the student, which will prepare him for the independent study necessary in college. Mom's not helping out with college work. Sorry, kiddos. You're on your own by then.

The third table, "My Weekly Chores", lists that child's chores, when they need to be done, and check mark boxes for each day of the week.

The last table, "My Weekly Planned Activities", is like a calendar showing the child what day their special activities are on. It's especially helpful at the beginning of each semester or season whenever a new sport or class starts, so they won't have to keep asking mom, "What day is football practice again?"

Now remember, we teachers might meticulously write out our plans for each day, each week. But one of the most important lessons I've learned as a homeschool mom is to be flexible. Because life happens. God just may well have a different plan in mind for your family that day or week. As it says in Scripture:

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

~Proverbs 19:21

You or a child might come down with an illness. Dad might decide to work from home for the day (no school work's getting done when fun Daddy's home!). An impromptu field trip, visit with friends, or a last-minute getaway vacation might present itself. And there goes that week's schedule!

That's when the pencil and eraser come in handy. Use it. Embrace it. Flexibility is one of the best benefits of homeschooling. So don't fill out the planner like you're chiseling in stone. I advise only filling out 2 weeks or so at a time. That way you won't have to erase a whole lot, because what homeschool family is going to choose a day's worth of schoolwork over a spontaneous visit to a friend's house if the opportunity arises? Not this homeschool family!

There are 2 possible ways you can use this planner:

Click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive where this document is absolutely free for the public to use. At the top of the web page there are several different options. If you click on the "printer icon" you'll be able to print the document and fill in the blanks using pencil or pen (pencil is always, always, always preferred because you'll often need to erase and change assignments). This is the more time-consuming method of using my planner pages because you will have to fill in all the necessary blanks each and every week.

The more efficient and personalized method: First, you will need to have Microsoft Word (or another word processor software). Next, click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive. Then click on the "download icon" at the top of the web page, which lets you save the document to your computer. Once you open the document on your word processor, make sure to "Enable Editing", which will allow you to type in information and revise the template however you want to suit your child's needs. You can add the student's name and grade to the top, which will save you lots of penciling in each week. Also, you can type in all of your child's independent subjects and daily assignments into the table. Then each week when writing down your child's assigned schoolwork, you will only have to fill in the assignments for that week, saving yourself lots of time.

If you don't have word processor software on your computer, no worries! You can simply click on the "down arrow" at the top of the web page, which will give you several more ways to use the document with "Connected Apps". So, for example, if you already have a Google Docs account, then you can open the document with Google Docs, which is basically a free online word processor. It may not have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Word, but it works great and it's free. Gotta love free!

Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

Using the Planner as a Teacher's Weekly Planning Page:

To use this planning page as a Teacher's Weekly Planner, you could follow Step #2 above for downloading the template to a word processor and then revise it as needed. A little tweaking of the tables and you have your own personal teacher's planner. You could have a separate assignment table for each student's individual schoolwork, plus a table for all the combined subjects you do together.

I also designed a two-to-a-page independent homeschool student weekly planner to use when it's not necessary to have the child's weekly chores and extracurricular activities listed down each week. This planning page saves ink and paper and can be simply cut in half to make two separate planner pages.

Once again, you can click on the link below to access this free template on Google Drive and follow the same steps listed above in order to use it.

Two Per Page Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

Please let me know in the Comments section below if you find my planner pages helpful in your homeschool or if you have trouble downloading or using them with your word processor. And I'll see what I can do to make any necessary adjustments. Thank you!

May God richly bless the remainder of your school year with peaceful, happy learning and growing healthy, loving relationships!

In Christ,

Suzy

The Loving Care of Our Father God

2013-11-25T12:07:00.000-05:00

God's Words:

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

~Psalm 27:10

This verse popped out at me in a big way this morning during my devotions. See it circled in pen at the bottom? You are probably thinking right now to yourself, "Wow, she is highlighter happy". Why yes, yes I am and happy to admit it! I love me some God's Word! By the time I'm 95 and about ready to crawl (or be carried by a very strong hospice nurse) into my death bed, I will probably have highlighted every verse in my much-adored Bible.

Anyway, as I read this verse this morning, it struck me that many children are forsaken by their parents, in many different ways; whether done on purpose or not.

There are foster children whose parents aren't capable for whatever reason of taking proper care of them. Maybe these parents have been abused and are carrying on the horrible cycle of abuse to the next generation. Maybe they are in the bondage of addiction, trying to numb their own personal pain, leaving them unable to give their children the loving care and attention each child desperately needs.

Then, of course, there are the children in abusive or negligent homes who haven't been rescued yet. My heart aches so painfully for them and I wish I could save them all. My own mother and her siblings were children just like this. They were never rescued from their extremely mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically sick, abusive father...until the day he drank himself to death when they were all grown-up or nearly grown-up. And even now, many years later, they are each still carrying the wounds and bearing the scars of how they were hurt by the hands and mouth of their own father.

Yet, God always has a plan of healing and restoration for these hurting souls; they have only to reach out to the Savior Jesus Christ and find his supernatural healing from all their pain, shame, and bitterness. And in Him they will also find forgiveness - not only for themselves, but also the ability to forgive those who hurt them.

In addition, this verse ultimately makes me think of all the millions and millions of aborted children in the history of the world. Yes, there has always been abortion, you know; just not always a "legal right" where there are actual massively-funded centers in which a woman can "safely" have her child dismembered, sucked, and many other despicably-cruel-and-taboo-to-mention-methods of removal.

These precious, innocent lives may be forsaken by their very own parents whom they were given to by God to care for, love, and cherish for all their life long. After all, this is an imperfect world with imperfect people suffering from many forms and degrees of pain and sin.

But all of these beloved of God are NOT forsaken by their Heavenly Father. He WILL receive them, somehow, someway. It's a promise. Right there in His Word.

I think of all the aborted babies being excitedly welcomed into heaven by their Heavenly Father and His angels when their earthly parents haven't chosen to keep them, for whatever reason.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 68:5

As the wife of a pregnancy resource center director, I am more aware than the average person of the fact that many girls and women who end up choosing abortion have felt forced to do so. Some have no support from their family and friends, either financially or emotionally. Some have boyfriends or husbands or parents who order them to kill their child. Many others are ashamed to be pregnant in the first place and are desperate to hide their secret from the world. Or feel like their future will be ruined if they bring the baby to term, regardless of whether they choose to raise it themselves or give it up for adoption.

Unless one has been in the situation of an unwanted pregnancy, I dare say it is difficult to truly understand the excruciating thought and decision processes that these women (and their partners) go through before they make that final decision to keep, give up, or abort their child. And my heart goes out to each of them, because I don't think anyone really desires to be in that situation.

Then I think of the many amazing people who have followed God's call to be foster parents. Oh, the selfless, self-sacrificing work they do, day in and day out, and throughout each night of caring for hurting little ones! The stories I have heard firsthand from my fostering friends have made me cry, both in sadness and happiness. Foster parents are my heroes (along with single parents). These specially-gifted people amaze me. I am constantly in awe of their sacrificial love for needy children. God comes to the aid of these children by providing temporary (and oftentimes long-term) caretakers:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...

~James 1:27

Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

~Job 29:11-12

And I think of the numerous people who have followed the Lord's call to rescue orphans by becoming adoptive parents. Now THOSE children are the especially "wanted" ones! They are specifically chosen to become one's son or daughter! Wow. The gift of adoption is like none other and blows my mind whenever I really think about it. God reaches out to these parentless children - in the form of new parents who want so much to have them be their very own children.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

~John 14:18

...for in You the fatherless find compassion...

~Hosea 14:3e

God sets the lonely in families...

~Psalm 68:6a

So the comfort we find in today's key verse is this: Whenever a child is forsaken for whatever reason, God has promised, and always follows through, to receive them in one way or another. He promises to provide for their needs, somehow, someway. He offers them complete healing through the power of His compassionate love, His Spirit, and the saving, forgiving work of His Son which enables them to be set free and whole from the hurt of their past. And He promises to love and take care of them, when they are unloved by seemingly everyone else. Even if that means joyfully welcoming them into heaven before they take their first breath on earth.

Have your ever suffered in some way by being forsaken by your parent(s)? Or do you know of someone who has or is enduring this pain? How have you, or they, been received by God?

Or perhaps you feel the call to help children such as this? How do you feel God specifically calling you to reach out to them and be His arms and feet of love and care and protection for them?

In Christ,

Suzy

My Very First Guest Post at Hip Homeschool Moms!

2013-11-15T11:30:00.002-05:00

God's Words:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~Ephesians 3:20-21

I'm still on Cloud 9 about the fact that the awesome ladies at hiphomeschoolmoms.com selected my post about Thanksgiving for their guest post today! This is a big, huge deal for a newbie writer like me, who will now be reaching hundreds and thousands of readers through this very cool website with the Word of God and the lesson He has taught me and my children about being thankful.

When I started writing this post two years ago, the very last thing from my wildest imagination was that God would give me the opportunity to have it shared like this and I AM PUMPED about it, to put it very mildly. The post is titled "Overflowing Thankfulness" and can be read at the HHM website here.

If you are a homeschool mom or considering homeschool someday, the Hip Homeschool Moms website is a really fun and incredibly helpful online community where you will find lots of up-to-date information on education, curriculum ideas, recipes and fun family activities and a whole lot more! And, by the way, they didn't even ask for me to give them a plug, ha ha! I am just genuinely enthusiastic about their awesome online resources that have already been so helpful to me as a homeschool teacher and mother.

So it's a dream come true to be included on their website. Only God can work out things like that! Just like the key verse states, I never imagined this would happen to me at such an early point in my writing career. Isn't He amazing?

Hip Homeschool Moms also has a facebook page where they post even more helpful tips and ideas, plus post questions from moms like us who desperately need advice that really works from fellow homeschool teachers. So it's remarkable to me how many encouraging moms comment back on each question, and the wonderful advice I have gleaned so far from these amazingly selfless women from all over the globe.

I hope you enjoy my article on the three effective ways I have found to teach my children (and myself) how to be more thankful throughout the year; not just during the month of November. Enjoy and God bless you and your precious family!

In Christ,

Suzy

Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

2013-08-01T13:02:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

~Proverbs 16:3

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

~Psalm 20:4

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

~Jeremiah 29:11

The planner I created is specifically designed to be used by independent homeschool students. However, if your child(ren) aren't independent learners yet, I suppose the planner could be adapted to be used as the teacher's weekly planner. That would just take a little tweaking. Either way, I hope you can make it work for you and your student(s).

Once my eldest child started 6th grade, I felt it was time to get him used to completing most of his individual assignments independently. And my then 6th grader is now an 8th grader, with his 7th and 5th grade sisters not far behind him, who are both also doing mostly independent work. We do a few subjects with all my children together, such as Bible, history, science, health, and geography. Wow, I guess that's more than a few. Anyway, I wanted my middle-schoolers to have an organized, easy-to-use student planner that would help them be more independent with all their individual studies. And free up my time to actually get most of my housework done each day. Whoo-hoo! Never thought I'd be so happy about that...

Here is what the independent student weekly planner page looks like:

The first table, "My Daily Assignments", includes the assignments that must get done each day, such as Bible memory work, reading, and music practice.

The third table, "My Weekly Chores", lists that child's chores, when they need to be done, and check mark boxes for each day of the week.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

~Proverbs 19:21

There are 2 possible ways you can use this planner:

Click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive where this document is absolutely free for the public to use. At the top of the web page there are several different options. If you click on the "printer icon" you'll be able to print the document and fill in the blanks using pencil or pen (pencil is always, always, always preferred because you'll often need to erase and change assignments). This is the more time-consuming method of using my planner pages because you will have to fill in all the necessary blanks each and every week.

The more efficient and personalized method: First, you will need to have Microsoft Word (or another word processor software). Next, click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive. Then click on the "download icon" at the top of the web page, which lets you to save the document to your computer. Once you open the document on your word processor, make sure to "Enable Editing", which will allow you to type in information and revise the template however you want to suit your child's needs. You can add the student's name and grade to the top, which will save you lots of penciling in each week. Also, you can type in all of your child's independent subjects and daily assignments into the table. Then each week when writing down your child's assigned schoolwork, you will only have to fill in the assignments for that week, saving yourself lots of time.

Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

I also designed a two-to-a-page independent homeschool student weekly planner to use when it's not necessary to have the child's weekly chores and extracurricular activities listed down each week. This planning page saves ink and paper and can be simply cut in half to make two separate planner pages.

Once again, you can click on the link below to access this free template on Google Drive and follow the same steps listed above in order to use it.

Two Per Page Independent Homeschool Student Weekly Planner

May God richly bless the remainder of your school year with peaceful, happy learning and growing healthy, loving relationships!

In Christ,

Suzy

Part 5: Scripture Card Mini Clipboards

2013-07-10T12:18:00.000-04:00

God's Words to Read:

I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
~Psalm 119:15-16

In my third post last year of a series I started writing called "Spend More Time with God", I shared about how I write Bible verses I want to memorize on index cards and tape them up in certain well-frequented areas in my house where I can see them often to aid in memorization. Although having white index cards taped up all over your home can be helpful to your Scripture memorization efforts, unfortunately, they're not very pretty. I knew there had to be a more attractive, decor-friendly way to display my Scripture cards, but I just had no idea or inspiration of how to go about this. So for years I've had white cards taped up by my kitchen and bathroom sinks. Boring. Kind of messy-looking. Not a good thing for this clean freak momma.

So while I was in deep thought and prayer about writing this series on what I do for my personal devotions and spiritual growth, I experienced a moment of sheer creativity (which rarely happens to me since I'm not very artistic, so once I got over the shock I went with it!). Here was my creative inspiration: what about using mod-podged mini clipboards to display the verse cards? Eureka!

Of course I immediately got busy shopping for supplies. I found 2 plain hardboard mini clipboards at Menards - each for just over $1 (I'm telling you, you save big money there). Add in a bottle of Mod Podge, a few sheets of pretty scrapbook paper, some coordinating ribbon, a sea shell (Say what? You'll see...), a small 3M Command wall hook, and a small suction cup hook. And now I have 2 very cute Scripture card clipboards that match my bathroom and kitchen decor!

What follows is how I made my very own mod podge clipboards. I found instructions online for mod-podging clipboards at two different sites (Small Family Big World and Echos of Laughter ), but incorporated the instructions from both and made some adjustments to create my own.

You will need:

- mini clipboard
- scrapbook paper
- Mod Podge
- paint brush or sponge
- scissors
- X-Acto knife or box cutter
- pencil
- newspaper or other table cover
- 3M Command wall hook or suction cup hook (for hanging on mirror or window)
- embellishments (optional)
- glue/hot glue

Step 1:
On the back side of the scrapbook paper, trace around the clipboard.

Step 2:
Cut diagonal slits from each corner of paper all the way to each corner of traced section.

Yes, if you couldn't tell by now, I'm left-handed. Please refrain from all left-hander jokes at this time, thank you. I've heard them all by now anyway. You try to sit in a school desk that has the attached writing table only on the right side. Or have random people comment on your left-handedness nearly every time you write in public. Like, wow, it's really that noteworthy. Oops, sorry, a little sensitive about it. But you know you noticed it and would have commented on it had we been together in person while I was cutting. That is, unless you too are left-handed and then it just looks normal.

When you're done cutting the corner slits, your paper should look like this.

Step 3:

Lay back side of paper over the top of clipboard and using X-Acto knife or box cutter, cut around the clip part of board. Also cut off the very top middle part of paper above clip part.

Please notice I put the box cutter on the right side for this photo to be fair and give visual aid to all you right-handers out there.

Now the back side of your paper should look like this.

And this photo shows what the cut-out part of the front side should look like, so that it will snugly fit around the clip.

Step 4:

Okay, now you're ready to mod podge. Yay! Open a window, though. It has a strong smell and I'm not so sure how good it is for the old brain cells.

First, coat the top of the clipboard with a layer of mod podge. Remember to protect your table surface. Mod Podge is really hard to wash off (learned that from experience, folks)!

Step 5:

Then quickly paint a coat of mod podge on the back of the scrapbook paper and gently press on the top of clipboard, carefully pulling the sides of paper around to the back of clipboard. Press paper down on all sides of clipboard, gently smoothing out wrinkles.

Step 6:

Next, gently paint on 1-2 coats of mod podge over the scrapbook paper on the top, sides, and back of the clip board. If doing 2 coats, let dry for about 15 minutes between coats.

This yellow clipboard is for my kitchen. Pretty! I love tone-on-tone patterns.

Step 7:
Embellish! I glued on some coordinating ribbon. Make sure to wrap it around the sides of the clipboard, gluing all the way around to the back.

I also tied a little ribbon to the clip. Adds a little extra flair, don't you think?

I wanted to fit 2 verse cards on this clipboard, so I found these amazing sticky note holders at the local teacher's supply store. They have an adhesive side on the back that sticks to just about any surface and is completely removable and re-adjustable. And they are designed to hold up a piece of paper as thin as notebook or printer paper, or as thick as cardstock. Love! What will they think of next?

Step 8:
Hang it up where you'll see it often! I hung up my kitchen clipboard with a 3M Command hook next to the sink, where I can easily read it while doing one of my most dreaded and never-ever-ending chores: dish washing.

Yellow and green are such happy colors. Perfect for the kitchen where I spend countless minutes each day (and not always happily enjoying what I'm doing in there!).

Now for my beach-themed master bathroom clipboard, I used 2 pieces of scrapbook paper - one is ocean waves (or lake waves! I'm a big Lake Michigan lover!) and the other is a sandy beach. I mod-podged the waves paper over the clipboard first. Then cut a bottom section out of the sandy beach paper.

I mod-podged the beach paper over the bottom of the clipboard until it looked like...

THIS! Cute, or what?

Then I glued on a sea shell my mom brought me back from a recent trip to Myrtle Beach.

Now, simply add a Scripture card...

Hang it up on the bathroom mirror with a suction cup hook and viola! You are ready to memorize and meditate on a favorite verse while you floss your teeth! But watch out for flying floss shrapnel. You don't want to get your pretty Scripture card clipboard dirty.

I guess I'm not as artistically-challenged as I had previously thought. Wonders never cease.

So, what do you think? Are you going to make a Scripture card mini clipboard like mine or do you have any other creative display ideas to share? I'd love to hear about it! Please share in the Comments section below!

In Christ,

Suzy

My Bible Basket

2013-07-02T20:39:00.002-04:00

God's Words:

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees, I will not neglect your word...I will obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

~Psalm 119:15, 16, 17b, and 18

I try to have "quiet time" with God most days of the week. This is when I read a little from His Word, spend some time in prayer and quiet reflection on what I've just read. And maybe pray about the other prayer requests that are on my heart. Some days it might only be 5 minutes; others a half hour or longer, but those are the rare days. And regretfully, of course there are the days when I don't make time for devotions. Those are the days that tend to end up not being so good and I look back and think, well duh!

Since I am a stay-at-home, homeschool mom of three rather loud and exceptionally busy children, you are probably guessing that there isn't much "quiet time" available at our house. Well, my friend, you are correct! I usually find myself having to steal away somewhere that happens to be peaceful for the moment (sometimes this requires shutting/locking the door to keep the kids and my tag-along dog out). It's all very random, time-wise and location-wise. I never really know where I'll be for my next quiet time. But you know me, I just live for spontaneity! Not.

That's why I put together my "Bible Basket" so when I finally find a few minutes of peace, I can very easily and quickly grab everything I need for my devotional time and go get to it before the peacefulness is invaded once again! Isn't it cute? And notice the handle, so it's very mobile and, well...handy!

In my Bible Basket I keep my really, super-old, falling-apart NIV Student Bible that I've had since I was a senior in high school (please don't even try to estimate how many years ago that was, ok? I'm getting to be age-sensitive as of late). But I love my personal Bible and just can't bear to part with it. It has every precious highlight, note, and mark that I've made over the years since my young adult days. Sure, you'll find that some pages appear to be completely highlighted, but each verse means something special to me!

Also in my Bible Basket are my Scripture Card File, Bible Study & Prayer Journal, and a pencil pouch with extra highlighters, pens, and pencils (ok, am I the only person that seriously loves the term "pencil pouch"? It must stem from my adoration of school supplies).

I store my Bible Basket in my bedroom, so one day last year I decided I should decorate it to match the decor in there. Hence the blue and green color scheme. I found the ribbons at Hobby Lobby. LOVE that store. Someone please help me not go there so often. My son hates being "dragged through that place". Hahaha. Get ready, buddy. Your future wife is going to love going there, too. It's a girl thang!

Some mornings I wake up before everyone else in the family and spend that precious time of tranquility communicating with my Heavenly Father. I grab a cup of Joe and get comfy on the sofa. I just have to make mention here that I am not a morning person, so this is very out of the ordinary at this point in my life. Someday I might turn into an early bird... but I highly doubt it.

Most of the time I enjoy doing devotions in the peacefulness of my cozy bedroom. Either before we start our schoolwork or activities for the day or once we're finally done with the busyness of the morning. Then the kids are off doing whatever they do when mom's not making them do schoolwork or chores. Sure, they might be making noise and quarreling amongst themselves, but that's when I make use of the door, and possibly its locking mechanism. They know that if they knock and I say I'm doing my quiet time, that it's wise to back off and hush up for a few minutes. Happy mom, happy life, people. They really respect my need and desire for alone time with God. It warms my heart that they truly understand this.

But other times, I like to read my Bible while I enjoy a quick bite of breakfast or lunch. Nothing better than feeding your body and soul at the same time! And that's what I call multi-tasking. What we moms do best!

On days when I have some writing to do or online devotions to read and need my Bible handy, it's so nice to be able to quickly grab my basket and have it nearby my desk.

While looking through the photos of "Where is Suzy's Bible Basket Now?", did you also happen to notice the other item that is always present? Did you find it? I admit to maybe having read too many search-and-find books like Where's Waldo? with my kids over the years... Hint: I love coffee!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share how I do my quiet time and keep my devotional stuff all together, in case you also struggle with managing to steal away for your alone time with God. What do you do for your quiet time?

In Christ,

Suzy

Welcome to Your New Family!

2013-05-12T10:37:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

~John 1:12-13

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

~Ephesians 1:3-6

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

~1 John 3:1a

In honor of Mother's Day and Father's Day this year, I wanted to share with you a story about some amazing friends of ours who chose to become parents in the most unlikely, extraordinary, I-love-this-story-so-much-it-melts-my-heart-every-time-I-think-about-it way. This newly married couple are the kind of people that just make you think "wow" and inspire you to be a better person; to look beyond yourself and your own life for ways to help others. Even if that means personal sacrifice.

We met this young couple when they were still engaged. It didn't take longer than, oh, maybe a third of a second seeing them together to realize they were head-over-heels in love with each other. Ahhh, young love. So sweet. So new. So seemingly untried (or so I thought before really getting to know this couple).

And then we were privileged to attend their wedding. Now I have been to quite a lot of weddings, let me tell you. Theirs was by far one of the best weddings I have ever witnessed. My husband agreed. Did I mention I've been to a lot of weddings? Hello, semiprofessional wedding singer here. I've been to all kinds of weddings. And theirs stands out among the rest as extra-special. I wasn't quite sure at the time why that was. But now I know. They are an extra-special couple with some of the biggest hearts I have ever seen in action.

Soon after getting married, Mr. and Mrs. Z went through the process of becoming foster parents. Okay, can I just start off right now by saying that this, in and of itself, flabbergasted me? I can't think of another young newlywed couple I personally know, or have ever heard of, who desired to become foster parents during their first year of marriage. Aren't you supposed to focus only on each other and get to know one another better during that first year of romantic, wedded bliss?

Well, I think I can speak for most married people by saying that the last thing most newlyweds would think of doing is invite a needy child into their brand-new family and home. I simply cannot fathom the selfless, benevolent desire that this couple had to do just that, when they had every right to spend all their time and attention on each other during their first year, or their first few years, together.

But not this twosome. They were already thinking about adopting before they were even married. And here is where the story gets good. Really, amazingly good. Do yourself a favor and go grab the nearest box of Kleenex right now. Seriously, trust me. Go get it.

Okay, ready? So before she ever got married, Mrs. Z (obviously she wasn't Mrs. Z yet, but you know who I mean) dreamed of either foster parenting or adopting, or both. It was always a dream and goal she had for her life. After she knew that Mr. Z was her Mr. Right, she shared with him this very important desire of her heart. Though not quite sure of that dream for himself, Mr. Z went along with it.

Yet, some time later, Mr. Z was hanging out with the guys and mentioned to them his girlfriend's desire to foster parent or adopt someday. One of the men pulled Mr. Z aside and told him that his baby granddaughter had recently been taken away from her mother by Children's Protective Services. And if Mr. Z and his future wife were serious about foster parenting and/or adopting, would they consider taking care of this little girl?

The reason that Little Girl M had been taken away by CPS is that her mother had been found neglectful due to drug and alcohol abuse. The grandfather also told Mr. Z that his son would most likely not try to take over custody of the baby. Nor did it look promising that the mother would be able to regain legal custody in the time required before her parental rights would be taken away by the court.

This is the part of the story that makes me cry sad tears. Not only had the birth mother been neglectful in caring for her infant, but she had also admitted to drinking alcohol and doing cocaine during her pregnancy. I have no idea what circumstances and struggles this poor mother has faced in her life that led her to drug and alcohol abuse. I feel an achingly empty sadness when a mother loses her child - in any way. I can only imagine the twofold pain of having your child taken away because you are seen as an unfit parent. Just the thought of that happening to me seems unbearable. So I am in no way casting judgment on parents who lose the custody rights of their children. No, on the contrary, I grieve for them and their loss and pray that through God’s grace they will experience freedom and healing through Christ.

However, because of this poor woman's life circumstances, choices, and addictions, Little Girl M was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. By the time she was rescued from her unsafe home, Little Girl M was only one year old and very, very small, underweight, and underdeveloped for her age. She couldn't talk or walk yet. She was way behind developmentally, in all areas of growth. Her doctors were afraid that she'd never be able to walk and would need a wheelchair all her life. They thought she would also have many other special needs for the remainder of her lifetime.

Little Girl M was taken in by a foster family that already had a few other foster children. Both foster parents worked, so all the foster children spent much of their time at a daycare center. This situation, although much better than what she came from, was still unfortunate for Little Girl M because she couldn't get the vital attention and therapy that she so desperately needed to start overcoming her rough start to life. Things didn't look very hopeful for Little Girl M. Or so everyone thought...

Well, after talking with the grandfather, Mr. Z told soon-to-be Mrs. Z about Little Girl M. They both felt like it was the right thing to do for them to start the foster parenting process so that they could someday, hopefully, adopt her. All before they had ever even seen what she looked like or found out all the details of her special needs. And all before they'd even tied the knot. Simply…amazing.

And this is where my sad tears turn happy. I mean, they could have adopted a healthy, newborn baby, right? But no, once this couple heard about this precious little girl who desperately needed the right care and a loving home, they were determined that they would be the ones to meet her many needs and love her for the rest of her life. They would willingly become her new parents, taking her into their home, along with whatever physical, mental, and emotional problems she may have. And commit to being her father and mother forever. It just blows my mind. The selfless, unconditional love for a child they hadn't even met yet.

Eventually, once they were married and received their foster parent license, they were able to have Little Girl M come live with them. Mr. and Mrs. Z immediately fell in love with the adorable, precious, pint-sized princess. They just knew it was meant to be. And everything that led up to the adoption went very smoothly, better than they could have hoped.

Watching this new family interact just tugs the heck out of my heart strings. Little Girl M is one incredibly blessed child. To have the doting, adoring attention of a loving mommy and daddy (not to mention both sides of their family) is every child's ultimate need and desire. And this very special little girl has all that and then some.

Her new mommy takes her to all her many doctor appointments, physical, speech, and other such therapy sessions, works tirelessly with her teaching her sign language, how to talk, and walk, and so much more. And now because of all this love and excellent care, Little Girl M has amazed her doctors by beating the odds. At just a couple weeks away from turning three-years-old, she can already do so many of the things they thought she'd never be able to do. Her future is full of hope now that she has a safe, secure home and exceptionally loving parents who do whatever it takes to help her grow healthy and strong.

My favorite part of this story is the day that Mrs. Z got something special in the mail soon after the adoption was finalized. She was so excited to receive a copy of Little Girl M's new birth certificate. It had her new last name on it, with Mr. and Mrs. Z's names as her adoptive parents. Oh, the elated joy the couple shared at this piece of paper!

According to my state's adoption law, at the time an adoption is finalized, the original birth certificate (the certificate issued in the birth name of the child) is sealed and an amended birth certificate is issued in the adoptive name. So this piece of paper stated that Little Girl M was now Little Girl M Z! She had a new last name! And a new family! She had been especially chosen and loved by two people that weren't her birth parents. Two people who chose her and love her in spite of her rough start. In spite of her many special needs and medical problems, which they would have to spend much time and money taking care of.

And do you have any idea what this story reminds me of? If you read the key verses for this post, I think you might get the gist of where I'm going with this. That this adoption story reminds me so very much of how God adopts His chosen and dearly loved children to become part of His family.

John 1:12-13 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ as Savior is given the right by God the Father to become His child. This Savior Jesus Christ, God's Son, died in our place, in order that we can be forgiven of all our sins and reconciled to a right relationship with God our Father.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

~2 Corinthians 5:17-19b

You see, when we start out life on this earth, we are born into a fallen world. We are helpless, needy sinners in a desperate situation of being separated from God the Father by our sin. We are like orphans with no hope or true, lasting love. Our lives are full of pain, sadness, bitterness, failure, and guilt. This reminds me of Little Girl M’s sad and unfortunate start to life and what seemed a hopeless situation for a helpless child.

But because there were two people who saw her desperate need and chose to love her and have her become their daughter, she now has a new family, a new name, and a new life full of hope and promise. And this part of the story reminds me of how, when we feel the love of God calling us to come to Him and find healing and forgiveness through His Son, and we accept those free gifts of grace and love, He takes us into His family and we become His children for all eternity. We are washed clean of our sinful past and old way of life. Healed of all our pain and despair. We are given a fresh new start at life. With a new name! His name! Thank You, Jesus! The old has gone; the new has come.

And the crazy-amazing thing about all this is that God the Father pre-planned (predestined) for this to happen to us; He chose us before creation to be adopted through Christ's sacrifice into His family, because He first loved us and was pleased to do (see second key passage, Ephesians 1:3-6). Wow. Just like how Mr. and Mrs. Z pre-planned and chose to adopt Little Girl M to become part of their family because they first loved her and wanted her to be their daughter. What amazing love. What a beautiful, perfect example of God’s unconditional love that He has lavished on us when He takes us as His own and calls us His children (1 John 3:1a). And that is what we are!

More verses about being God's chosen:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

~1 Peter 2:9-10

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.

~Ephesians 2:19

In Christ,

Suzy

But I Just Don't Like Her...

2013-03-14T15:27:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

~Proverbs 14:21

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

~Colossians 3:12-14

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

~Galatians 5:22-23a

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

~Matthew 22:39b

"She's a nice person... Other people seem to like her so I'm sure she must have plenty of friends. And she's never said or done anything bad to me...ever. I just don't...um, I just don't like her. Honestly, she drives me crazy. But, oh no, here she comes! How can I look preoccupied so I won't have to talk to her? Or, wait, even better...where is the nearest escape route?!?"

Have you ever experienced a similar thought process about someone you just don't like? It's not at all that you feel hatred toward them or any emotion to that extreme. And they may not have ever done anything bad to you to earn your disfavor. You just simply do not like him or her. You can't help the feeling of displeasure that comes over you while being around them. They just annoy you. Bother you. Get on your nerves. You see them heading your way and you immediately cringe inside. And then you feel horribly guilty at the same time for feeling that way about them.

I think everyone knows a person they wish they didn't know. At least one. Come on, be honest here. I bet there is someone that immediately popped into your mind when you started reading this post. Someone who rubs you the wrong way and you really cannot seem to help how you feel about them.

And what about when your child doesn't want to play with another child at school or in the neighborhood - for no particular reason other than he just doesn't like the other child? How do we as parents guide our children to handle this kind of sticky social situation when we ourselves have people in our lives that we don't like and try to avoid?

Or worse yet... Maybe it's you that feels disliked by someone and you can't, for the life of you, figure out why. You're just being yourself and you're always kind and polite to them, but you get the feeling that they would rather be with anyone but you. And that they even try to avoid you. But you don't dare ask what's wrong because deep down you can guess why and it would kill you to know the real reason - that maybe they just don't like you. Bad, bad feeling. Why would someone not like me? I'm a fun, compassionate, helpful person with a great sense of humor...or at least I think so, of course!

This is definitely a difficult subject. One that I wasn't even sure I should write about. Who wants to admit they don't like someone for no "good" reason? Not me. But at the same time, I've always wondered what the Bible says about whether we have to like people or not. So I took it upon myself to find out and share with you what I learned, just in case you, too, struggle with not liking a person for no "good" reason.

How does God want us to deal with people we don't like? I mean, Christians are supposed to love everyone, right? Yes, of course, the Bible is filled with commands to love every person just as we love ourselves (for example, see Christ's words in Matthew 22:39b above). Including our enemies and those who hate or mistreat us. But I'm not referring to those meanies right now. I've already written about how to deal with people like that in this post.

Today I'm strictly talking about the people who utterly annoy us, even though they most likely (and hopefully!) have no clue we see them that way. They're really, truly just being themselves...their own irksome, aggravating, bothersome selves. They probably can't help being the way they are, just like we can't help being the way we are. But they grate on our nerves, regardless. Our personalities merely do not "click". What about them? And how do we want people who don't necessarily like us to treat us?

I believe we most definitely need to learn how to handle this type of personality conflict in a way that pleases and glorifies God. Of course we are called by God to love them. We already know that's a given. But I have asked myself many times in my life as I've come across people that bug me for whatever reason - do I have to like them? Do I have to somehow force myself to find pleasure in their company? When in all honesty, I simply cannot find much to like about them because I can't get over the way(s) they irritate me? Sounds harsh, doesn't it? I feel like a meanie just writing all of this!

There are so many different types of people out there, with so many dissimilar personalities, senses of humor, and quirks. I think this vast array of diverseness wonderfully attests to God's glory in how He has created human beings - His most precious creation. We are all made in His image, though so very different. And that is a good thing, don't you agree? Wouldn't the world be a dull, boring place if everyone was the same?

Yet sometimes the ways in which we are different can actually become sources of annoyance or dislike among us. Not everyone has to be chummy, buddy-buddy with everyone else, right? So although I do not conclude that it's necessarily sinful to not enjoy someone's company or to not desire to be their closest friend, I do believe that sin comes into play when we react in a bad way to the person we don't happen to like.

In the first key verse for this post, God's Word says it is a sin to despise someone. Despise means to look down on with contempt or aversion, to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration; an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing. Wow, pretty strong words there. The definition of despising someone sounds horrible, doesn't it?

So if I dislike someone so much that I feel as if I actually despise them, then that is wrong of me. What I've found very helpful when facing people that get on my nerves is to make an effort (and sometimes it seems to take a huge amount of effort) to see them through the eyes of their Creator, who loves them so much that He gave up His own Son to die to save them (John 3:16), knows the exact number of hairs on their head (Luke 12:7), and watches over and cares for every little detail of their life (Psalm 139). If God loves them that much, then the very least I can do is show them a loving respect and care. Even though I might not revel in their company.

And that is also why Jesus called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. How do we want to be treated by people that might not exactly adore us? With respect, kindness, compassion, gentleness, patience...even...love? Yes, even love. Hmmm, sound familiar? Sounds a lot like the second and third key verses for this Bible study. If we are in Christ, we have His Holy Spirit's power at work in and through us to be able to treat people - any and all people, regardless of how annoying they might be - in a loving way that is kind, respectful, patient, etc. Just as we want to be treated by others.

God promises to give us what we stand in need of to literally bear with that irksome person in our lives and all their abrasive ways. No, we don't have to delight in their personality, but we do have to treat them in a loving way, no matter what. And the good news here, dear readers, is that if we ask for God's help in this, we just might find ourselves becoming less annoyed, less bothered, less aggravated. The Spirit will help us see them through Jesus' eyes of unconditional love. Maybe even to the point where we can't remember why we disliked them so much! Is it even possible?

Give it a try! Start praying today for God's help in finding the beauty and admirable qualities He sees in someone you don't like very much. Then just wait and see what happens in your heart! I can tell you from personal experience that it is possible and both you and that formerly-avoided person will be the better for it! Believe it or not, you just might find a new friend...

In Christ,

Suzy

My Favorite Bible Story

2013-01-25T09:54:00.001-05:00

God's Words:

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

~ Luke 15:11-24

Our Bible passage for today is my absolute favorite story in the Bible. It's actually a parable Jesus told, often called "The Parable of the Lost Son" or "The Prodigal Son". A parable is a fictitious story which teaches a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus told many parables when teaching the crowds that seemed to follow Him everyone. Sometimes these stories were hard for the people to figure out and He'd have to explain them later. But this specific parable is not hard to understand. And I just love it. I can't ever read it (no matter how many countless times I've read it) without tearing up.

Then one of my favorite music groups, Phillips, Craig and Dean, came out with a song about it. Gets me every time. I looked on You Tube for a video of this beautiful song to share, but most of them looked kinda cheesy. But here is one of the group performing it live and I have to say they sound better in this video than the recording.

Did it move you, too? Sigh. The lyrics so perfectly portray how much the father in Jesus' story loved his son and earnestly, patiently waited for him to someday return home. And that the father was so happy and excited when he saw his son coming, that he ran to meet him! Jesus used this story to show how much God loves us and how He longs for us to return to Him, accept Him as our Father, and live with Him as His precious children.

Nothing is stronger than a parent's love for their child. If you have children, I daresay you feel the exact same way as I do about my children. I can't help but love them unconditionally, no matter what they do-even at their naughtiest. I can't imagine loving them anymore than I already do. If I did, I think my heart would explode!

Well, the Bible tells us that God loves His children, the people He created, even more than a human parent loves their child. Can you even wrap your mind around that? As Jesus said,

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” ~Luke 11:11-13

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

And here is a prophesy foretelling God's sacrifice of His own Son for us (note the mention of us being engraved on the palms of His hands, which refers to the nail marks on Christ's hands from being nailed to the cross). All because He loves us that much:

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; ~Isaiah 49:15-16a

Did you also notice that in Jesus' parable, the father doesn't scold or reprimand or punish the son for leaving their home for a life of rebellious sin? Actually he welcomed him back, unconditionally, with compassion and happiness, and threw a huge party! Not one mention of the son's rebellion, shame, unworthiness, or how long he'd been gone.

That is exactly how God welcomes us. And unconditionally forgives us. It didn't matter to the father in the story what horrible things his son had done while he was away. And it doesn't matter what bad, sinful things you and I have done. When we realize our need for Him and His forgiveness in our lives, He immediately washes us clean of all our sins, to be forgotten and never held against us - forever.

That, my friend, is a Father's love unlike any other. He is our perfect Father. Our earthly parents make mistakes sometimes because they are human just like we are. And yes, we might need some therapy sessions to get over ways they've messed us up! But our Heavenly Father only gives us good things, blesses us, guides us, protects us, comforts us, provides for all our needs, loves us unconditionally...no matter our past.

And that is why this is my favorite Bible story. Because Jesus wanted us to clearly understand how it doesn't matter that we've rebelled, how long we've rebelled, what bad things we've done. God the Father gave His perfect Son, Christ Jesus, to die for us, so that we can be reconciled to Him and spend eternity with Him. He is just waiting for us to come back to a right relationship with Him. He is looking out for our return, waiting. And when He sees us coming, He will run to greet us, with unconditional acceptance, forgiveness, and love. Then the angels will throw a party in heaven!

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. ~Luke 15:10

Are you living a life of rebellion against God? Or are you a born-again believer who has chosen to go down a wrong path or has been nursing a sinful habit that you know is keeping you from a right relationship with God? Perhaps you have a loved one who is living a life of sin and you have been praying a long time for them to seek God's forgiveness and give their life to Christ. Or maybe you just feel far away from God.

In any of these difficult situations where there is a broken or damaged relationship between someone and God, this story of the lost son tells of all it takes for one to return to God. Just come home! Come back to God, your Father! He is waiting for you! He can't wait to throw a party to celebrate your return! And He won't make you feel guilty or unworthy when you come seeking His forgiveness and acceptance. On the contrary, He will run eagerly to meet you when you're still on your way back, enfold you in His loving arms, and compassionately forgive and welcome you back to Him, never to lose you again!

Oh, dang it all. It got me again. Where's the kleenex?

In Christ,

Suzy

Dashed Hope, Crushed Heart

2013-01-08T15:18:00.002-05:00

God's Words:

When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy.

~Proverbs 13:12 (GNT)

Have you ever gotten your hopes up about something that you thought was so perfect for you, totally in alignment with your dreams, or seemed just the right fit for the talents God has given you...only to have your hopes mortally dashed right before your very eyes?

Oh, the painful disappointment and heart-breaking hurt of a wish unfulfilled; a lifelong dream left for dead. Dashed hopes can literally make your heart sick. My preferred translation of the Bible puts our key verse this way:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

~Proverbs 13:12 (NIV 1984)

At the beginning of this post, I shared the Good News Translation of this verse because it so accurately describes how I feel when a hope or dream doesn't come true when or how I want it to, if at all. It feels like, just as my hopes are crushed, so is my heart.

I've personally experienced this heart-sickening disappointment way too many times already in my life. I think my problem is that I get my hopes up too easily. Especially when an opportunity comes along that really seems like something God would want for my life. I mean, come on, it would be so awesome! A perfect fit for me. Such a wonderful blessing! Why wouldn't God allow me this hope fulfilled? I just get so frustrated when an opportunity seems so right, but God doesn't allow it to happen. At least for that specific time in my life, anyway. Can you relate?

Every time I see a perfect opportunity and get my hopes up about it, yet God in His all-knowing wisdom and loving plan for my life doesn't allow it to happen, I struggle with a reaction of huge disappointment and emotional let-down. And let's be honest, probably even a little bitterness. When my dashed hopes are at their worst, I might cry out to God (imagine a whiny voice), "But why not, Lord?! Why couldn't You let me have this blessing right now?” Or “Why aren't You allowing me to use the gifts and talents You've given me for this awesome opportunity? You know I can do it! And I know I can do it...with You helping me, of course. So why not?!?" Some pouting and pity-partying might ensue. What a spoiled brat I can be sometimes.

Yet at the same time my heart feels sick about a "lost" opportunity, deep down I know why God doesn't fulfill each and every one of my hopes and dreams. Can you guess why? Because He knows that not all of our wants and wishes are best for us. And even if He does have some of these fulfilled dreams planned for our future, His timing in our lives is always perfect and totally for our good. When we come to Him with a hope or dream, sometimes His answer is more of a no, not that; and instead He has something different and much better in mind for us. Other times His answer might be more like a not now kind of thing and we just have to be patient and wait for Him. Put our hope in Him only, and in nothing and no one else.

So here are a couple things to keep in mind when you start to get your hopes up about something (and if you’re like me you don’t even “start” the getting-your-hopes-up process, you just go all out with full-fledged 100% hope!):

1. Something you may hope for may not be at all good for you, so don't be surprised when God never allows it to happen. He has a life planned out for you that is perfectly designed just for you and what He knows is best for you. He is your Creator after all. He knows exactly what you need and what you really don't need. His plan is always much better than what you may have “planned” for yourself, as the following promises of Scripture attest:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. ~Proverbs 19:21

2. God's timing for your life is always for your best. Even if His timing may sometimes frustrate you when you think you deserve something now rather than later, remember that He always, always, always has your best in mind.

In this case, God wants you to patiently wait for Him. Wait for Him to act. Wait for Him to open the door of opportunity to you. And while you wait, He wants you to trust Him and His plan for your life and put your hope in Him. Not in your own self-centered desires and wishes. As part of His loving plan for your life, He has some maturing, learning, and faith-growing for you to do in the meantime. This growing we do is the hidden blessing that takes place during our times of waiting for God.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. ~Psalm 27:14

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! ~Isaiah 30:18

Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” ~Isaiah 49:23b

I don’t know about you, but nothing feels more joyful than when a wish finally does come true, just like our key verse states. Then all the waiting and wondering, praying and patience was totally worth it and makes it seem even better than we'd dreamed! So go ahead and give your hopes and dreams to God. But remember to have an attitude of submission to His will for your life because He just might have something way better in store for you!

Here are more encouraging promises from Scripture about hope and waiting for God’s timing:

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. ~Psalm 130:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. ~Psalm 42:11

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~Roman 12:12

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Romans 15:13

In Christ,

Suzy

A Tour of Our Homeschool

2013-01-05T17:36:00.002-05:00

Last year when I started this blog, I mentioned sharing a photo tour of our homeschool. Well, I am pleased to announce that I finally got around to taking pics of where we do school at home!

First of all, let me start by saying that we've been homeschooling for 3 1/2 years. The first 2 1/2 years we "did school" in our kitchen. Many homeschool families prefer doing schoolwork in their kitchens. It's a convenient location, Mom can do dishes or make food while simultaneously teaching a lesson, you can eat while you study. I mean, who wouldn't want to learn in their kitchen?

Not me. After the first few months I got to the point where I couldn't stand the constant cluttered mix of books, pencils, bowls, and crumbs. I hated having to use half my cupboards to store all our books and school supplies. I have a huge kitchen with plenty of storage space, but I still felt like there just wasn't enough room for how I wanted my school supplies to be neat and organized. And I also couldn't stand having our school stuff out once we were done studying for the day. So we'd always have to spend extra time cleaning up and putting our educational items away. Not to mention the time it took to get all that stuff out at the beginning of our school time!

Needless to say, I am not a kitchen schooler. So I dreamed of the blessed day when we would finally be able to have a separate homeschool room. Thanks to my handy husband and father, last January we completed building a special room down in our basement just for that very purpose.

I love our new school room! It's bright, cheery, and cozy. I have decorated it just as I once thought I would decorate my future school room back in college when I was studying to get an elementary education teaching degree. You know what I mean. Every wall covered in motivational and educational posters, animal pictures, bulletin boards, chalk boards, dry erase boards...teacher heaven! I still get a big smile on my face every time I walk into our school room. I just can't get enough of the smell of crayons and pencils! That unique "school smell" makes me so happy. It did when I was a little girl. And it still gives me that same "I'm excited to learn more today" feeling. Yeah, I was a nerd who loved school. So what? You got a problem with that? I bet I got better grades than you, so there.

All joking aside, I am very excited to share our school room pics with my readers! I hope you glean some organizational or decorative ideas from what I've done. Please feel free to shoot me a message if you would like more info about products or organization methods I use. Plus, I'm always more than happy to share about what curriculum I've put together for my kiddos.

So without further ado, may I warmly welcome you to the "Bos Family Homeschool Room"!

My desk. A very happy place.

My homeschool motto. Oh, and where I got the title for this blog!

At Menards, I found these great blank dry erase posters. I use this one for our Bible memory verse of the week. Sometimes I let one of the children write out the verse. Actually, my daughter's handwriting is much better than mine, I'm ashamed to admit.

My homemade prepositions chart. Thank you, Easy Grammar!

The north wall. Hmm, I wonder how I knew that? And, in case you were wondering why there are birds and insects all over the walls, we are currently learning about flying creatures in science.

My DIY art display! Yes, I created it all by myself! I found the wall decal on ebay for super cheap!

Our art center. Inside those plastic dressers are lots of art supplies and craft sets. I'm sure you've noticed by now that everything is labeled. So there are no longer any excuses for putting things in the wrong spot!

On the south wall, we have our dry erase map posters. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love it that I can write on them while we're learning about different areas of the world!

This is our American flag we use when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. I strongly believe this is a very important part of the school day. Second only to studying the Bible.

And here is the Michigan flag with 2 maps of our beautiful, unique state.

The school room doubles as a play room. What homeschool room is complete without a Barbie house and horse stable?

I also really love my cube storage system I found at Target. I put scrapbook paper behind some of the cubes for added flair.

I hit the school decor jackpot when I found this adorable alphabet ribbon at Michael's!

This is our chore chart. At the beginning of each school year, the kids get to decide rewards they will work toward together. For each week they have completed all their chores well, without complaining or bad attitudes, each child earns one sticker. They get to decide which reward to add their sticker to. I know it's too blurry to read, but the rewards they've chosen so far this year are Kindle Fire games, Wii games, and an extra Wii remote. Can you sense a theme here? My children enjoy playing video games. The number of stickers required to earn the reward is based on the cost of each reward.

I really love my over-the-door shoe holder as a terrific place to store school supplies! I used 3M hooks to hang on the wall behind the door. It's out of the way and works better on the wall than on the door. Once again- labels, labels, labels!

The Reading Nook. Doesn't it look like a cozy place to curl up with a book on the fish bean bag chair?

Also in the Reading Nook is my wonderful bookcase, with extra storage and plenty of room for more books that we find at homeschool book sales.

I love these red fabric bins. Aren't they so cute with the free printable labels I made from Better Homes and Gardens?

I labelled the different book sections so the children know where to put books back. Unorganized bookshelves drive me crazy!

And now, last but not least, one of my favorite spots in the school room. My open closet!

Isn't it an organizational beauty?!

In the center of this shelf are the kids' "file boxes" where they keep all their workbooks and notebooks.

At the bottom of the closet are more arts and crafts supplies, puzzles and more.

My kids do math on the computer (Teaching Textbooks) and this requires them to be in a separate room so that they can hear the lesson and concentrate without distractions while I'm teaching another child in the school room. Therefore, my husband and dad made a home office/computer area in the closet of our family room in the basement. I have a bulletin board set up on the wall that holds helpful math hint posters.

Never thought I'd tell my kids to go into the closet to do their math. But then again, I never thought I'd homeschool my kids. God's plans for us are always better than what we could come up with!

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. ~Proverbs 19:21

I'm so thankful that the Lord's purpose for my life right now is to teach my precious children in the comfort and safety of our home, allowing them to learn at their difference paces, on our own timeline, and enjoying extra-curricular activities based on their unique skills and gifts.

So, that's it. I hope you enjoyed our homeschool tour! I sure had fun sharing it with you! From time to time I'd like to share homeschool tips and ideas, curriculum we love, and more here on my blog. So until then, happy learning at home!

In Christ,

Suzy

Ordained Days

2012-12-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

God's Words:

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

~Psalm 139:16b

I typically avoid reading or watching the news. It's usually nothing but bad news and just gets me down. Some people may criticize me for not staying properly informed of what's going on in the world. But my tender heart just can't take all the sad events that take place each and every day. It seems like it's always the same kinds of things happening, over and over again. Politicians making unwise decisions, terrorist attacks and wars throughout the world, natural disasters, robberies, murders, kidnappings, abuse, and other such crimes. It overwhelms me.

However, once in a while, a news story invades my protective life bubble and impacts me deeply in a way I cannot escape. My husband came home from work last Friday and asked if I had heard what happened that morning at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Of course I hadn't. So he filled me in on the terrible tragedy of the mass shooting in which 26 people were murdered by a single crazed gunman. And that most of those whose lives were so brutally taken were children. NO!!! How could this happen? Not again! Not another senseless massacre! What kind of sick, evil person is capable of such a horrific crime against sweet, innocent life?

Like most people reacted upon hearing this devastating news, I was affected to tears. It's almost incomprehensible. When I start to try to picture how it happened, to get some kind of understanding of what those helpless victims went through, I get sick to my stomach and my mind just can't finish going there.

My second reaction was probably the same as felt by all parents, especially those of young, elementary-aged children. An overpowering, distressing fear. Could something like this happen to my children? My nieces and nephews and friends' children? My children's friends?

We live in a fallen, sinful world. No one on earth is immune to or completely safe against death and destruction. When evil tragedies like this occur, it strikes terror and fear in the hearts of people. A very natural response, to be sure.

Yet I know I can't live with that sense of fear always hanging over me. I had to be free of that heavy burden. And the sooner, the better! So I prayed to God for relief from it and the first Scripture that His Holy Spirit brought to my mind was today's key verse:

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

~Psalm 139:16b.

This verse immediately filled my heart with a deep sense of peace, reminding me that God has a plan for each of my children's lives. And for the lives of each of my loved ones. We don't have to live in constant fear and worry for what horrible things might happen to the people we love. This comforting verse tells us that before any of us were born, God had already planned out our lives. He has predetermined exactly how many days each of us will live. He knows how our lives will play out - and end.

No, I don't completely understand how or why God allows bad things to happen. I do know that it is a result of the fall of man. And Satan is constantly at work to hurt God by hurting His creation, which He loves. The more pain, death and destruction the evil one causes, the more successful he thinks he is in his war against God. The devil loves to hurt us because He hates God. And he loves it when we're afraid, because that means we're not trusting God. For His protection. For His plan for our lives. And this also hurts God.

But only look to God's Word and you will find the Source of faith, peace, and strength to replace any doubt, worry, or fear. The comfort I find in the pages of my Bible is three-fold.

First of all, God is in control of everything that happens in the world.

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ~Colossians 1:16-17

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. ~Job 12:10

Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. ~Proverbs 19:21

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Second, He tells us, no commands us, to never be afraid for He promises to always be with us.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9

No, He may not always stop bad things from happening, but He will bring good out of it. He will use the hard times in life for our good, if we let Him.

Which leads me to the third comforting truth I cling to - He promises to always bring good out of bad, in the lives of those who love Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28

We can't see yet what good He'll bring out of this most recent tragedy. My prayer at awful times like this, or really when anything bad happens, is that people will be drawn closer to Christ. If they are believers, then I pray that they will grow in their faith and relationship with Christ. And if they aren't saved yet, that they will find healing, comfort, peace, and the true meaning of life through believing in Jesus as their Savior and living a new life in Him. He is our only real, lasting comfort in this life after all. And our hope for eternal peace and joy, too!

How then does a mother help her children to not live in fear and teach them how to process tragedies in the world?

Here are a few suggestions of things I do to help my children deal with fear and to trust God with their lives:

1. Pray with them, and teach them to pray on their own, when they see or hear about bad things happening. For example, whenever we're driving and an ambulance or other emergency vehicle rushes by with sirens blaring (such a frightful, alarming sound), I say a prayer out loud for whoever is hurt or in trouble and for the rescue/police workers to have the wisdom they need. And I always ask that God would draw the people involved to Him. I sure would love to find out someday the results God has brought about through these prayers for strangers! Maybe in heaven we'll hear about it!

2. Console them with the verses I shared today and with any other verses that speak solace to you. Oh, how the Bible is full of words of comfort! God loves to bring us peace and strength and a greater trust in Him through His Word.

3. Remind them that their Heavenly Father loves them even more than you do. And as parents who ache with love for our children, we all know that is saying A LOT!! No matter what bad things happen to them in their lives, God is in control and has a loving plan for them and will bring about eternal good for them, if they love Him. Nothing can separate them from the love God has for them. Nothing.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:35-39

Dear friends, may each of you draw closer to our Lord through this tragic event that has taken place. Seek comfort in His Word. Cry out to Him in prayer whenever you're overwhelmed with fear or grief. Know that He loves you with a love greater than you can even fathom and that nothing can take that love away from you. Ever.

In Christ,

Suzy

Happy Hospitality: Being a Wholly Happy Hostess

2012-07-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
~1 Peter 4:9

I love to host people in my home. I find much enjoyment in planning for a party, play date ("hang out" as my teens prefer to call it), or meal with guests. Deciding on favorite recipes to make. Shopping for and making the food to serve. Using my "fancy" dishes. Organizing what activities and other forms of entertainment we'll offer our visitors. Cherishing quality time with friends and family in the comfort of our home.

And call me crazy, but I really, really enjoy hosting out-of-town guests overnight. Serving them refreshments once they arrive from their long trip. Making up their beds with fresh linens and warm, cozy blankets. Setting out my best wash clothes and towels (you know, the ones that aren't full of holes and fraying edges). Letting them use the expensive soap and shampoo (no generic brand products for my guests!). Making a huge breakfast of homemade pancakes with all the fixings in the morning.

But I have to say that one thing I do not really enjoy about hosting is the before and after cleaning that often needs to be done, which typically includes having to enlist the help of my children and poor husband. We all get a little grumpy about this part of being hosts. But I am, by far, the worst. I sometimes find myself grumbling about having to clean the guest bathroom toilet. I complain about how long it will take for the kids to pick up all their stuff (aka: "junk") before I can even begin to vacuum the floors. And it's not like I can get away with not vacuuming. My two dogs shed enough fur in one week to make a coat big enough for a petite-sized woman. Well that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but still - all that soft, pretty, black and white fur can fill up my vacuum's dirt cup twice each time I sweep! So needless to say, I gotta do it!

Then all too often, once our guests leave, I gripe to myself about how many crumbs and spills there are on my just-cleaned floors. How it seems like every single toy my children own has been taken out and not put away before their friends leave. Let me just make a note at this point: My children know full well that I expect them to either ask their friends to help them pick up the toys they all got out, or else they will have to pick up by themselves once their friends go home. So it's just very frustrating to me when we have a mess to clean up once everyone is gone.

My son somewhat lovingly refers to me as the "Drill Sergeant" when it's time to clean the house. I would say probably more like another name and all I need is a broom. Oh, wait. I do sometimes use a broom when I clean. Ugh. But you get the point. I am not the happiest of homemakers when it comes to cleaning time. At all. Regardless of whether we're having visitors over or not. I just simply detest house cleaning at any time.

I'm not really sure anyone really enjoys cleaning. If you do, I'm very sorry, I just don't see the appeal. Bending over until my back aches to scrub soap scum, bath crayon marks and - what is that?! - from the bathtub is not my idea of a good time. I don't savor dusting each and every picture frame, knickknack, and piece of furniture we own. And I absolutely loathe cleaning toilets. Don't even get me started on that repulsive task.

Now I have to say that those amazing Swiffer products and my ever tried and true Clorox Disinfecting Wipes have significantly helped diminish my cleaning mania. They might be pricey, but they sure do make quick clean-ups a whole lot easier. Plus, my dear children are at that absolutely splendid age when they are finally able to significantly help out around the house. My daughters actually argue over who gets to mop first. And my son tackles the chore of vacuuming in much same way as he plays cornerback on the defensive line of his football team. Look out dirt, you're a goner!

I'm not telling you all this to terrify you of ever coming over to my house for fear of causing my family to go into a cleaning frenzy! I just want to share with you what God has been working on in me concerning my bad habit of allowing myself to have a grumpy attitude about cleaning the house period, but especially when we are expecting company.

I am sharing this about myself because maybe there are other women out there like me who are often tempted to grumble about hosting guests. It must be a problem for plenty of people throughout the ages, otherwise I don't see why God would have addressed it in the Bible. Our key verse for today couldn't be any clearer on the matter! We all should be willing to offer hospitality to each other without grumbling. I guess there must have been some grumbling going on in the early church! Well guess what? There's some grumbling going on at my house (mostly by me, which definitely doesn't help my family's attitude about it) and I know it displeases God, so that means it's got to stop.

Maybe you don't really mind the cleaning up part like I do, but instead you don't like the cooking and food service aspect of hospitality. Or perhaps you'd rather not have over certain people whose company you don't really enjoy all that much (FYI: I will be dealing with this whole issue in another post soon). Or maybe you worry that your house is too small, or you think your furniture is too shabby, or you don't have it in your grocery budget to afford extra food for guests, or any other number of reasons that make you grumble about having guests in your home. For me it's the whole cleaning thing. But for you, it might be a totally different complaint.

So how can we overcome our reasons to complain in order that we can look at hosting in a completely new and positive way? How can each one of us become a wholly happy hostess instead of a grouchy grumbling one?

Well, whenever God commands something of us, He is always faithful to provide us with the strength and help through His Word and Holy Spirit to be able to obey Him. And when it comes to being a happy hostess, I need a total change in my attitude about the aspects of hosting that make me grumble. Everyone gets to choose their attitude. You may not be able to choose your circumstances, but you are 100% in control of your choice of attitude. You may not like your shabby furniture, or cooking skills, or small house, or having to have your husband's annoying cousin visit (I'm just totally making that up as an example! All of my husband's cousins are very lovable!!). But you can still choose to make the best of the situation you find yourself in and choose a happy attitude.

For me, it helps to look to God's Word for advice on having the right attitude, as well as pray for His Spirit to work in my heart to enable me to obey what I read. Here are a couple of my "attitude change go-to verses":

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be make new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~Ephesians 4:22-24

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being make in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross. ~ Philippians 2:3-8

So even though my selfish human nature hates cleaning, I can choose to have a happy attitude about it (with God's help of course!) because I know I am putting my guests' best interests before my own. And yes, I may sometimes feel like a servant in my own home, making tons of food and cleaning toilets and picking up the "party aftermath", but I can do all this having a joyful mood because I am showing love and concern for my visitors by taking care of their needs and making sure they have a pleasant, comfortable time.

And don't forget that showing hospitality to others, including strangers and people that get on your nerves, is just one more way to demonstrate Christ's love. Christ Himself washed all 12 of His disciples' feet to show how we are to serve others (John 13:1-17). I think the least I can do when people come over is make sure my toilets are clean!

Now it's your turn to "come clean"! What part of offering hospitality do you dread? What advice can you share with my readers about how you overcome grumbling about it and instead choose to be a wholly happy hostess?

In Christ,

Suzy

Forgive Like God Does

2012-07-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

~Colossians 3:13

To forgive. One of the hardest things to do in life. To willingly let go of the bitterness and resentment we feel towards someone who has hurt or offended us.

I think it's especially hard to forgive someone when they haven't even apologized (and probably never will). Or maybe they have, but you can still tell they aren't truly sorry for what they did. Has this ever happened to you?

Or turning the tables a bit, what if it's you who has wronged someone and you are truly sorry so you apologize and ask for their forgiveness? But although they might say they've accepted your apology and forgiven you, they definitely don't act like they've forgiven you. You can tell that they are still holding what you did against you.

I don't know which situation is worse. Having to forgive someone who doesn't seem to "deserve" it? Or knowing you aren't truly forgiven by someone who is still holding a grudge? Both situations feel pretty awful.

But let's dig a little deeper here. What if you are the one who is holding onto bitterness or resentment by not forgiving someone (whether they've asked for it or not)? In our key verse, Colossians 3:13, God says we are to bear with others (which means to be patient and control ourselves when provoked), forgiving whatever grievances (complaints; causes of distress) we have against them. And that we are not only to forgive them, but to forgive them as God forgave us. Whoa. Now that's a tall order. And what exactly does it mean? How does God forgive us? We need to know this if we are to be able to forgive as He forgives. So let's just take a little look into God's Word to find out how He forgives. And why. And when.

First of all, let's start with the how - how does God forgive us? It's not by anything we can do; it's a completely free gift of grace and mercy from a loving Father who wants us to be reconciled to Himself forever.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ~Romans 3:22-24.

We are forgiven by God the Father through the perfect sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. God forgives our sins because, in dying on the cross, Christ took away the punishment for sin that was ours and put it all on Himself.

Next we come to the why question. Why does He forgive us like this - so freely, so undeserved on our part? Amazingly, He says He does so for His own sake. Wow.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." ~Isaiah 43:25.

And also because He loves us so much, that's why! This most famous verse puts it very simply:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

Now we get to the final question on God's forgiveness. When does He forgive us? Well the how of forgiveness is already complete, once and for all - Jesus' death on the cross. But before we are able to receive God's forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice for us, we must first acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior and accept His sacrifice for our sins. Only then are we forgiven by and reconciled to God the Father. As it says in 1 John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We are forgiven forever once we confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness to wipe out each and every sin (even future sins!) from our record, never to be held against us again.

And remember, God planned to give His perfect Son Jesus to die in our place before we ever realized we need to come to Him for salvation from our sins. Actually, even way before we were ever born! For His first promise of a Savior was right after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (see God's first prophecy of Christ in Genesis 3:15).

So Christ carried out His forgiving work on the cross before we were sorry for our sins.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

Now here is one more facet of God's forgiveness that never fails to completely blow my mind. Did you know that He not only doesn't hold our sins against us when He forgives us, but He also forgets them forever?! That the Almightly God, whose intelligence and ways are so far above ours, is actually able to forget our sins, never to remember them ever again. As far as east is from west, and as deep as the ocean - that's how far He removes our sins from us.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalm 103:12

Do east and west ever meet? No. Once God has forgiven you of your sins, He will never remember them again. They're blotted out, like you never did them (see Isaiah 43:25 above). Again, wow.

But why is He willing to go the the extreme of forgetting our sins against Him? Because He doesn't want to stay angry at our sins forever, but delights in showing mercy - so much so that it's as if He hurls our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be looked for or found ever again. I'm telling you, this stuff is just mind-blowing!

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. ~ Micah 7:18-19

So there you have it. If that is how God forgave us, then that is
how He calls us to forgive each other. But we can't do this on our own strength. It is impossible to truly forgive others as God forgave us without His Spirit's grace and power working in and through us.

It will take a supernatural, holy power at work in us to forgive someone who we feel might not really "deserve" it; someone who doesn't seem sorry for how they hurt us. We didn't deserve for Christ to die in our place in order to bring about God's forgiveness. So we also should forgive those who may be undeserving. Not merely because they have "earned" it by apologizing or acting sorry.

We should also be willing to forgive those who've wronged us because it is just one more way to show Christ's love to them. After all, He does call us to love others.

Love your neighbor as yourself. ~Mark 12:31b

So just as God has forgiven us because of His love for us, so we should also forgive others out of love for them.

And now comes the hardest part! In order to truly forgive someone as God forgave us, we have to actively strive to not hold anything against them. As hard as it may be, we must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts to let go of any feelings of hurt, resentment and bitterness. Ugh. I don't know about you, but this is where I really need God's supernatural help! Once I forgive someone, I desperately need God's power at work in me to not keep bringing up the past offenses and hurts in my mind, or keep a record of wrongs against them.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

Oh, if only we humans could really forget once we've forgiveness someone! According to 1 Corinthians 13:5 (see above), when you love someone (as God calls us to do), you are not to keep a record of their wrongs. You are not to hold anything bad they have ever done against them. Argh. That's so stinkin' hard! How many times have you forgiven someone, only to still hold onto the memories of how they've hurt you in the past? So because of those memories, it's harder to trust and have anything to do with that person again.

Yet - and here's the amazing hope in all this, my dear friends - because of the grace and power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us, we are enabled to show others the forgiveness that God has given to us. No, we cannot do it perfectly like He does. No, we can't really ever forget how they've hurt us. But we can ask the Lord to remove the remaining burdens of bitterness and painful memories that are still trying to cling to us. So that we can move on in our relationship with them, working to not hold grudges and give them (and ourselves) a chance to start fresh. We can still show unconditional love to them, in spite of what they've ever done to us. With God as our Help and Strength we can do the "impossible" and forgive as God forgives us!

In Christ,

Suzy

Planting Little Seeds

2012-07-09T08:20:00.000-04:00

God's Words:

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

~ Matthew 13:31-32

While reading Matthew chapter 13 in my personal devotions the other day, I came upon Jesus' Parable of the Mustard Seed, which struck me differently this time than it ever has before. And I wanted to share with my readers the big truth I feel God speaking to me through these 2 short verses.

Do you ever get discouraged in your role as a mother that the little, seemingly insignificant things you do for your children each day really don't matter a whole lot in the big scheme of things? You know, little things like comforting and praying with your child when he has a bad dream in the middle of the night, cancelling all your day's plans when he's sick and needs you to stay home to care for him, or giving him your full attention when he needs to talk about something that's important to him (even though the subject at hand may bore you to no end). Or how about helping your child memorize a Bible verse for Sunday School, reading an inspirational story to her, or giving her wise advice about a difficult situation she's facing with one of her friends?

Each little thing you do to nurture and develop your child's character and health is like the little mustard seed which the farmer planted that grew into a large garden tree so big and sturdy that birds could perch in its branches. These little things we are frequently called to do as mothers add up to have a huge impact on the character and well-being of our children as they grow into adulthood. If we have been careful to take the time to teach and nurture them, then they will grow up to be healthy, strong, wise adults of noble character.

Just as the tree in Jesus' parable grew to be so large and strong that it became a safe home for birds to live in, I hope and pray that my children will grow up to be morally and spiritually strong adults who are a blessing and a help to others. Because of the selfless love and godly training we as parents have poured into their lives, they will be better enabled to have a greater impact on those whose lives they touch.

But this will take time. Many years of time! This time will fly by and our children will be grown and ready to "leave the nest" before we know it (as elderly people at the grocery store often tell me as I pass by with my cart packed full of food and my 3 kids in tow). So let us prayerfully make the most of the time we have with our little ones to mold and train, nurture and teach them in every way that the Lord provides.

Then, when they are all grown up and living lives on their own, we will be able to sit back and see the fruit of all our years of loving labor that we poured into their lives while they were home with us. I can't wait to see how God uses my children for His kingdom and glory! But for now, it is my all-important responsibility as their mother to keep planting those little seeds of love into their lives, watering them with the Living Water (John 4:10-14), and nurturing them with the Living Bread (John 6:51).

Some days are hard and I just can't see much progress, but that is because they are still growing! They are like baby plants who are just beginning to bud and grow fruit. So with God's help and strength and wisdom, I will keep on watering, nurturing and caring for my little plants each day. And I will keep my goal for them in mind - that they will grow into strong, mature, capable, wise adults who bring God glory in who they've become and all that they do.

In Christ,

Suzy

Persecution: A Blessing in Disguise!

2012-07-02T11:10:00.001-04:00

God's Words:

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

~2 Timothy 3:12-15

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

~Matthew 5:10-12

A while back one of my children had an issue with a friend in which my child felt persecuted by this friend for something she believes. Well, it wasn't actually her little friend that made her feel bad for what she believed, but more accurately the friend's parents. These parents where upset that our child was sharing her belief about the truth of Christ with their child.

This incident left our entire family feeling sad and even a bit angry at first. How dare they ask us not to allow our children to talk about the truth of Jesus with their child! What is so wrong about that? Would they really rather that their child never know about who Christ really is? If we respect their way of life (even though we may not agree with some of what they do and believe) and keep our thoughts about it to ourselves, why do they feel free to openly criticize our beliefs and way of life?

It goes without saying that this family isn't currently serious about Christ and having a real relationship with Him as Savior and Lord. We are fully aware of this and are always hoping and praying to be able to plant seeds of truth and faith in their lives as we interact with them from time to time. After all, we as believers are called to be active in the world, sharing the love and truth of Christ with everyone we meet. But it just hurts so much when this most important part of our lives is ridiculed and we are made to feel like we are the ones in the wrong.

After we talked about this issue as a family and prayed about it together, we all calmed down and began to look at things from God's perspective. Jesus often talked about persecution. He spoke of how He continually faced it, how righteous people before our time faced it, how all believers must also face it, and why we are persecuted. But Jesus also, and most importantly, told us about the blessing of being persecuted and how we should truly feel when it happens to us.

Jesus said we are to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted because of our belief and faith in Him. We should feel blessed when we are persecuted for wanting and trying to live godly lives. Wait... What?? How can we possibly feel good in any way when we are mistreated, criticized, made fun of or worse for believing in Christ and living for Him?

Well I think it's only natural to feel hurt and sad (and maybe even a little mad) at first when someone treats you this way. Those are just our natural human emotions coming into play. But if you pray about it and try to focus on how God sees things, you will start to see the blessings in disguise! Once you peel away the initial layers of hurt and sadness, you'll be able to more clearly see how it is actually a blessing and a reason to rejoice and be glad when someone persecutes us.

Rejoice why? Exactly what kind of blessings are we talking about here? Well, we can rejoice in the reasons we are being persecuted for, which are really the most wonderful blessings a person can be given in life!

First of all, we're being persecuted for living godly lives. That's a good thing! That means that people are seeing Jesus in us as we live our lives; we're being an effective light and witness for Him in this dark world (Matthew 5:14-16). We're being "the only Bible some people may ever read", as one of my favorite sayings goes. It means you're doing things right, my friend. We want people to see that we are different because someday they just might ask us why and then we'll have the blessed opportunity to share the good news of Christ with them (1 Peter 3:14-16)!

Yes, we might often be persecuted for our belief in the truth of God and His Word. Well praise the Lord that He opened our eyes to see and understand this truth!!

And sure, we may be persecuted because we believe and trust in Jesus Christ, who saved us from all our sins by His perfect sacrifice and now have an eternal home awaiting us in heaven with Him forever. Hello! Thanks be to God the Father for this most precious gift of His Son as our Savior, and to top it all off, heaven!!! Need I say more about the blessings? I think not.

But now, how do we pick ourselves back up and keep on going in life, knowing it probably won't be long before we're faced with another form of persecution again? Just look at what God's Word says in our Bible reading for today. In 2 Timothy 3:12-15 it says to keep on living a godly life in Christ, continuing to live according to what we know to be true, which is God's Word, and which is also the one and only source of true happiness and wisdom and meaning for this life. Not to mention the life to come! So keep on being a witness for Christ. The way is hard and sometimes lonely, but we have God who goes before and with us and keeps us always in His loving, all-powerful care. Let Him comfort and build you up with His Word and get back out there and shine that Light!

The lost people of the world may ridicule us for what we believe. Jesus told us to expect it. So don't be surprised whenever it happens to you. But also don't forget to remember the glorious, wonderful reasons you have to rejoice, be glad, and feel blessed!!!

A few more Scripture passages on persecution:
1 Peter 4:12-19
1 John 3:13
Acts 5:40-42
Matthew 5:44
Romans 12:14

In Christ,

Suzy

Why the Golden Rule is Hard to Obey

2012-03-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

~Luke 6:27b, 28, 31

God's Words to Read: Luke 6:27-38

I remember first learning about "The Golden Rule" as a very little girl. And throughout my childhood, it was a common thing to hear parents and teachers reminding children of the importance of treating others as one would want to be treated. It is a very helpful parenting tool that I use often with my own children as I continuously seek to train them in the right way to deal with others. But the golden rule is not just good for children to obey; it's just as vital for "grown-ups" to follow, too!

This moral "rule" originates from a command Jesus gave, found in two of the four gospels, one of which is today's Scripture to read and also in Matthew 7:12. If you read this passage in its entire context, you'll see that Jesus explains exactly what He means by commanding this and why we should obey it.

Something very important I've learned about God through years of studying His Word is that He never makes a requirement of us that is not in our best interest and for our own good. Each of His commands is for our own personal well-being, health and safety. But this command is very special in how it is designed to bless more than just those who obey it. If we do our best to follow this "rule" in our lives, we will bless everyone we have contact with!

Just think about it for a minute... If everyone in the history of the world always treated others as they would want to be treated, our world history would sure be a whole lot different! There would be no wars, no divided nations. No hatred, theft, or murder. There would be no family dysfunction, abuse, divorce, or sibling rivalry. No broken friendships, no bullies. No jealousy, hurt or bitter feelings. And there would be no need to forgive others, for we'd have nothing to forgive in the first place! It just blows my mind to think of how different the world could be if every single person made more of an effort to follow the golden rule.

Ironically, this very simple command is the recipe for peace and love in the world, yet is something so very difficult for most people to obey. Why? Because it is a two-fold command; not only are we to treat others as we would want to be treated, but we are also to treat others in a kind, loving, and respectful way even if we don't feel like it and regardless of how others treat us!

I mean, we are all human and our selfishness, self-centeredness, pride and other less-attractive human traits always seems to get in the way, don't they? I don't know about you, but I find it extremely challenging to "be nice" to someone who has "not been nice" to me. Or to be respectful and thoughtful to someone who has treated me in the opposite way. Or, for goodness's sake, when I'm supposed to show care and love for a person that is often (putting it very frankly) UNLOVABLE!

But Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless (which means to invoke divine care for; to speak well of; to confer prosperity or happiness upon) those who curse us, and even pray for those who mistreat us. He wants us to give and lend to everyone freely, without ever expecting to get what we gave back or to receive anything in return. He also commanded us to forgive others and be merciful to them, even if they don't "deserve it", just as He forgives and is merciful to those who don't deserve it. It struck me like never before when I read verses 35 and 36 of Luke 6 - that God treats the ungrateful and wicked with kindness and mercy (also see Matthew 5:43-45). Jesus said that as God's children, we must do as our Heavenly Father does by treating everyone with unconditional love, goodness, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness...whether we think they are deserving of such treatment or not.

Wow, that's a tall order. How can we even begin to obey it, when there are all kinds of mean, rude, selfish, greedy, evil, and downright unlovable people in the world?! Well, the bad news is that we will often be treated badly by others. That's just life in this sinful, fallen world. This is especially true if we are believers. Jesus warned us we would be persecuted by unbelievers because of Him (John 15:18-25). And yet, once again, He wants us to bless and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44 and Romans 12:14).

But the good news is that we have a Helper who will fill us with His power and love so that we are capable of treating others as He wants us to treat them, no matter how they treat us. One of my favorite Scripture passages tells just how this all works: Galatians 5:22-25- "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." So if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, which all true believers are, we have His supernatural power always in us, at our disposal, to act in a loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled way. Wow again!! God enables us through His Spirit in us to treat others in a right way- even our enemies and those people that drive us crazy!

If you are looking for a perfect example of Someone who treated others in a loving, kind way, look no further than Jesus Himself. He was treated horribly by so many His whole 33 years on earth, yet never, not even once, did He lash back at anyone in a sinful way. Yes, He stood up for what was right and wouldn't mince words in telling people what they were doing wrong and how and why they needed to change their lives. But in standing up for the truth of God and His Word, He never, ever sinned. Not once. Read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to see exactly how He treated others, no matter how they treated Him.

Are you struggling with loving someone who is "unlovable"? How about your children? Are there mean bullies at school or in the neighborhood who make them miserable? Or maybe they bicker and fight at home with their siblings? As hard as it may be, you can be an effective role model to your children to show them how God wants us to treat others, especially those who might be considered "enemies". Teach them by your own example how to be loving, kind, merciful, forgiving and freely giving to others. As you deal with people in your daily life, talk openly with your children of how you often struggle with showing Christ's love to some people, but that you are able to do so with His power working in and through you.

What are some other ways to teach your children about "the Golden Rule"?

Talk to and remind them often about how Jesus commanded us to treat others.

Read together Bible passages in which Jesus commands us to love others and treat them the right way and the Bible stories of when He and His people showed love to others. Read true stories about believers who lived after the Bible times whose lives God worked through to show His love to a hurting, lost world. There are plenty of true stories like this in our modern time, too!

Find godly character development books and resources to go through with your children. Many have application lessons and activities in which you and your children can discuss and "practice" showing godly, loving behavior in tough, real-life situations. A wonderful book I'm using in our homeschool right now is Daily Character Education Activities by Becky Daniel-White. There are 2 books available for different age levels: one is designed for 2nd and 3rd grades and the other for 4th and 5th grades.

If there is a bully in their life, pray with them specifically for that difficult child - and not just for God to help that child change and find salvation and healing, but also that God would help your child to show love and forgiveness to him/her. There is just something amazing about the power of prayer in how God uses it to change and soften our hearts to please Him. Let me tell you, I have much experience in forcing myself (yes, for me it's definitely a forced thing!) to pray for my "enemies". I have learned that it's pretty hard to hold onto resentment, anger and an unforgiving heart when you pray consistently and specifically for someone who's been unloving to you.

Remind your children (and yourself, for that matter!) that most often a bully is a bully for a reason. Maybe he/she is abused at home or comes from an unloving or dysfunctional family. Maybe he/she has very low self-esteem or a problem they secretly struggle with and are trying to hide it with their mean exterior. Seeing the bully in this light will help your child (and you) have more compassion and understanding for him/her.

Tell them about times in your own life that you have had to deal with hard-to-love people, including instances of when you acted the right way and the wrong way towards such people. My children's ears really perk up when I talk about a true story that happened to me! I think having an adult they love and trust tell them about a life lesson they learned is a very effective way to make things really hit home for them.

Teach them (and once again remind yourself) that obeying the golden rule is a powerful way to share the good news of Christ with those who are lost. Is there a more effective way to show others the transforming change Christ has made in our hearts than by loving and treating them the way we want to be treated-no matter how unkind, disrespectful, unloving, and just plain rude others might be to us?! And maybe it's not having an impact on the bully, but I bet other kids in class (and the teachers!) are watching how your child treats that bully. People know we are Christians by how we act - what we do and what we say. Countless people through the ages have come to believe in the truth and saving power of Christ, simply through a believer in their life treating them or another with love, especially if that love was undeserved!

I pray for each of you, and myself, and our children to depend on God's power and love at work in our hearts to enable us to show Christ's unconditional love to a hurting, mean, evil, lost world-that many may be drawn to Him and His salvation through how we treat them.

In Christ,

Suzy

Keeping a Scripture Card File: Part 4 of Spend More Time with God

2012-02-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

God's Words:

I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

~Psalm 119:15-16

The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

~Psalm 119:72

The ordinances of the LORD are sure
   and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
   than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
   than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.

~Psalm 19:9b-11

In my last post I promised to go into greater detail about how I use my index card-sized poly expanding file to help memorize Bible verses. I wrote that I use the file to organize the verses I've already memorized so that they are readily available for anytime I want/need to "brush up" on them, as well as any verses I've already written down that I'd like to someday memorize, but haven't gotten to yet.

Here once again is my Scripture Card File:

And here is a close-up, in case you want to look for that brand or a similar brand:

I specifically chose this file because it has 12 divided sections with adhesive tab labels. This feature will enable you to better organize your chosen Bible verses according to their topic. My file has 12 sections, so I came up with 12 general Scripture topics (it was so hard to think of just 12!), which I wrote on the tab labels with a fine point Sharpie:

1. God's Character

2. God's Promises

3. God's Word

4. Love, Obey & Worship God

5. Love Others

6. Prayer

7. Salvation

8. Christian Living

9. Faith

10. Wisdom

11. Sin & Temptation

12. Spiritual Warfare

Also, the front pocket holds my extra blank index cards, so they're right at hand - pretty neat! I love this file!

Now, as I come upon a verse I would like to memorize, I write it down on an index card and file it away according to topic for later use.

Also, when I'm done memorizing a certain verse, I file it according to topic as well. But before I file it, I first write a small "M" for "memorized" in the upper right hand corner.

That way, just in case I don't remember right away as I'm looking through my file, I can quickly and easily see whether I've previously worked on a certain verse or not. This also makes reviewing verses I've already learned much easier! One of the most important steps of memorization is to review what you've memorized on a regular basis. For some people, that might mean once a week; others once a month or every few months. It really all depends on how many verses you've already memorized and what works best for you. Come up with a simple review system of some kind that will work well for you and your schedule and will be easy to keep up with.

One idea is to review all the verses you've learned from one section per week. Then the next week, review all the verses from another section. Once you're finished reviewing the last section, start again with the first section the following week. So for example, this week I might review all the memorized verses in my "God's Character" section and next week I'd review the verses in the "God's Promises" section. This is my preferred method for review. I guess I just get overwhelmed at the thought of reviewing all the memorized verses in my file at one time!

Another idea is to have your Scripture memory review be your devotion time with the Lord once a week or month. As you review the Bible passages you've memorized, meditate on them and make them prayers to God. Not only are you reviewing your memory verses, but praying God's Word back to Him is a very powerful and meaningful way to communicate with Him. I could write a whole devotional series on praying God's Word! I will leave that for another time!!

Well, now that I've shared what I do to memorize Scripture, I'd love to hear what you do for Bible memory, or any ideas or suggestions you may have that I could add to my own memorization efforts. Please share your ideas, suggestions, and/or thoughts in the Comments section below. I'd love to hear from you!

May God bless you richly as you dig deep into His Word to find the countless precious treasures there to store in your heart and mind forever!

In Christ,

Suzy

Scripture Cards - Part 3 of Spend More Time with God

2012-01-30T10:05:00.000-05:00

God's Words:

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

~Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

~Psalm 119:97

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

~2 Timothy 3:16-17

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

~1 Peter 3:15b

For those of you who have been waiting in earnest for my next post about the methods I use to memorize Scripture (including photos and step-by-step instructions!!!), well here it is...FINALLY! I've been rather preoccupied as of late. My family is currently in the process of finishing a couple rooms in our basement to add some much-needed living space to our home. This project has been going on since last summer and we are so ready to be done with it! At long last, the carpets are in and now I'm in decorator mode, which for me is the most fun. FYI: I plan to share some photos of our new homeschool room and play area in the near future when I write a post (or actually, it might turn into its own blog or series, you never know...) on teaching your children at home. Over the last few years that I've been homeschooling, I've had so many questions about homeschooling from friends and strangers alike, that I might just put all my accumulated homeschool knowledge and know-how on the world wide web to save others the time and effort it took me to find all that information out! So make sure to "stay tuned" for that if it's something you'd be interested in.

Anyhoo, back to the subject at hand! So with the home improvement work taking up all my extra time recently, I've had to put my blog writing on the back burner for the last few weeks. Ugh. But I tell you what, this post has not been far from my mind and I'm actually kind of glad that I've had these extra 3 weeks to really pray and think about what to write next because Bible memorization is such an important thing for believers to do. If you didn't read my last post and you're curious why I would say that, then please go back and read Part 2: 3 Steps to Take in God's Word So it "Sticks" of the series, Spend More Time with God.

Over the years, I have put together a Bible verse memorization method that has proven very effective for me, personally. Now what I do might not work well for everyone, but it works great for me. And I've been really looking forward to sharing it with my readers, in the hopes and prayers that it will help some of you, too.

So without further ado, here is what I do to memorize Scripture:

It’s simple really. All you need is a pen or pencil, a roll of painter’s tape for delicate surfaces, a package of 3x5 or 4x6 index cards (ruled or blank, it doesn’t really matter. However, if you are like me and cannot seem to write in a straight horizontal fashion, but rather “uphill” or “downhill”, then perhaps ruled index cards might work better for you!), as well as an index card-sized poly expanding file (this may otherwise be known as a coupon-size expanding file). I found all the items below for super cheap at Menards, of all places. You really do save big money there! I call Menards the “Men’s Target” because most of the guys I know seem to love to go there at least once a week just to see what’s new and on sale, plus you can find pretty much anything there – from wallpaper and tiles to milk and birthday cards.

Then, as you come upon a Bible verse or passage you'd like to memorize, simply write it down, including the reference, (in your very best handwriting, of course) on one side of an index card and tape it somewhere you will see it often throughout your day. Now, I have never had a problem with the 3M Scotch-Blue Painter's Tape for Delicate Surfaces harming any surface I've used it on. But just like with any glue or tape product, please test it out first in an inconspicuous area before you go to use it.

So where should you stick it up at? Well, for some of you, that might mean on your bathroom mirror or wall next to the bathroom sink so you can review the verse(s) while you get ready for the day and then again while getting ready for bed. If you work outside the home, a good idea might be to tape your card next to your computer or other work area. In my very first blog post, I shared that I like to have a Scripture card on the cabinet right next to the kitchen sink, where I spend countless minutes each day doing dishes, cooking, and cleaning up.

This is a close-up view of the card next to my kitchen sink (notice my 9-year-old daughter's hand-painted flowers and flowerpot. The big green "M" on the pot is for "Mom", of course!):

I also like to keep another card up on my bathroom mirror. Sometimes it's a totally different verse I'm working on; and sometimes it's the same verse as the one I have up by my kitchen sink. As a side note, I admit I'm a little OCD about things being matchy-matchy and so, as you can see, my ink color perfectly coordinates with the blue in my bathroom. Of course you do not have to follow suit in having your pen color match your room. I just find simple pleasure in doing this.

Ok now, this is totally random, but I couldn't resist sharing a photo showing the main theme of my master bathroom, which is relaxing at the beach! Ahhh, yes...relaxing. An activity that quite often eludes me in my busy life of being a mother and wife. But still, it's a good reminder for me to at least try to relax each day!

You know...I think that shelf is crooked. Maybe that's why it ended up half coming off the wall the other day. I think a screw was loose. That really bothers me...OCD again. Don't worry, my handy man will fix it soon!

Again, sorry, let me get back to the subject! To learn a Bible passage even more quickly, it might help for you to copy the passage down onto several index cards and tape them up in different locations that you spend a lot of time at. That way, you're sure to spend adequate time throughout the day viewing and reviewing the verse(s) you're working on memorizing.

What I do after I put up a new passage is to read it and repeat it out loud and then in my mind at least several times each time I'm near it. So, for me, brushing my teeth in the morning is a perfect time as any to review my Scripture card. And then again, sometimes many times (depending on how many dishes need washing), when I'm working at my kitchen sink. I don't really count my bedtime teeth-brushing session as the best time for memory review. At that point in the day, my brain function is pretty much shot and I definitely don't want to undo all the hard memorization work I've done all day long when my brain function is at its height (aka: "Mom Brain"), which is still not saying a whole lot, at least where memory strength is concerned.

Now, another way to help the memorization process is to daily, or at least several times a week, copy the Scripture passage on a piece of notebook paper. Copy it down just once each day, or however many times you find helpful to aid in memorization. This is really an optional activity. I rarely do this, maybe because I'm ~~too lazy~~ too busy to do so, but usually just the act of frequently reviewing the verses by looking at them on my cards is enough for me.

Having Scripture cards displayed where you can frequently see them is not just good for memorization. It's also a wonderful reminder for you to focus on a portion of God's Word and really give it some deep thought (which is what it means to "meditate on") and prayer as to what God wants you to learn from that passage. God doesn't want us to just read His Word, because sometimes we simply forget most, or all, of what we read. Rather, He wants us to really think and pray about how we should apply His Word to our lives. So these Scripture cards should not only help you memorize Bible verses, but also provide a very visible reminder to meditate on what you're "hiding in your heart".

In closing, I will briefly introduce what I use the poly expanding file for, which I will go into greater detail about in my next post. I use the file to organize the verses I've already memorized so that they are readily available for anytime I want/need to "brush up" on them, as well as any verses I've already written down that I'd like to someday memorize, but haven't gotten to yet. Until my next post, perhaps now begin thinking about how you would like to organize your Scripture cards.

And don't forget to stop by Menards this week to get your supplies, and be ready to run into lots of men you know who are just happily browsing the store!

In Christ,

Suzy

Part 2: 3 Steps to Take in God's Word So it "Sticks"

2012-01-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

God's Words:

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

~Joshua 1:8

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

~Psalm 119:11

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.
~James 1:22-25

In last week's post, I wrote about how being spiritually healthy is vitally important for not only our overall health and well-being, but most importantly to please God, do His will, and be an effective witness of Christ to those around us.

I also promised to share in my next few posts the things that I have done, books I've read, websites I frequent and other advice and tips which I have found helpful in maintaining spiritual health and closeness with God.

But before I begin, may I first stress that God is always near to us; He is with us at all times, never leaving or forsaking us (Deuteronomy 31:8, Matthew 28:20). However, as we travel this journey of life with all its many ups and downs, sharp turns, blockades, landslides and those terrible, frightening times of being totally lost and alone in a dark forest, we may draw farther away from Him. How does this happen? When we don't seek Him in prayer and through His Word on a regular and consistent basis.

Jesus called Himself the "Bread of Life" (John 6:48-51) and the "Living Water" (John 4:10-13) because He knew those 2 descriptions would be a perfect way for us humans to understand our basic and dire need to fill ourselves with Him. In order for us to be saved, we first needed to receive Him as the Living Bread that was sacrificed for our sins. Then for the remainder of our lives here on earth, just as we would suffer hunger and thirst without enough food and water, we desperately need Him to equip and empower us to follow His way and do His will. And just as we are first saved through finding and applying the Truth of His Word and seeking His forgiveness and salvation through prayer, we still need to continue that same manner of taking in His Word (through reading, listening to, or memorizing it) and communicating back to Him through prayer.

I will deal more with the topic of prayer in a later post, but for today we will focus on the:

3 Steps to Take in God's Word so it "Sticks"

Step #1: There are so many ways in this modern world for us to absorb God's Word! Let's see, you can read it for yourself, either in your own personal Bible, the "Bible app" on your smart phone (ok, I can't believe I just wrote that, as I don't even have a smart phone! I guess I'm getting more "techie" then I realized!!). You can listen to it read on a recording of some type - online for free, a CD, MP3 or iPod, etc. Plus, there are so many songs, both current styles and even the "old hymns", that are filled with the Word of God. Of course, being a music junkie (seriously never get enough of it - singing, playing, and hearing it!), this is one of my favorite ways of filling my heart and mind with Scripture. My absolute favorite genres of music are "Praise and Worship" and "Contemporary Christian". The gifted people who write these beautiful songs seek to base their lyrics on the Word of God. So not only are you enjoying a catchy tune, but you're soaking up inspiring and comforting words of Scripture at the same time! I love to listen to this music while driving. It's so relaxing, especially when there are crazy drivers out there stressing me out! And I love to have this uplifting music playing during the day when we're at home. It's pretty hard to be in a bad mood when you're surrounded with the sounds of God's Word set to music!! Plus, the best thing about this is when I hear my children singing along! I know they are being comforted and uplifted, too.

Step #2: Another important aspect of studying God's Word is to really think about what you read or hear, ponder it and consider how it applies to your life and what you feel God is trying to teach you through it. Maybe a verse convicts you about a sin you've been letting into your life. Let me tell you something, if you truly want to grow closer to God and serve Him better, He will show you through His Word how He wants you to change to be more like Him, for His sake and for your own good! I cannot tell you how many times I've simply turned to my next devotion or planned portion of Scripture to read, and there before me is a verse or verses convicting me of something I need to change in my life or something to seek His forgiveness for and repent of. But also, even more times than I can say, He has used His Word to uplift, encourage, strengthen and comfort me in a difficult time.

So after you are done reading a verse or portion of Scripture, let it soak in for a while. Let it roll around in your head and heart as you go through the day and just wait and see how God uses it to bless and help you in your life!

But there have also been plenty of times when I've read my devotion for the day, given it some thought and prayer, and I'm still not really sure how to apply it to my life at that time. Well then later on that same day or week, it turns out I really needed to read that Scripture to prepare or equip me for something that happens to either me or someone I know!

For instance, just last night as I was tucking my kids in bed, my 9-year-old daughter told me that sometimes she hates night time. I asked her why (even though this has been a fairly common thing she tells us at bedtime lately, but I guess I just hope to maybe find out more specifically what is bothering her so much). Well, she said she gets scared and worried during the night because she is fearful of having nightmares. And she also worries about people (and pets) she loves dying or that something bad might happen to them. I can understand this childhood anxiety. I struggled with the same fears as a child.

But guess what happened as I tucked her in, trying to think of something comforting to tell her! A verse popped into my mind that I had JUST read an hour or less beforehand while I was researching for an upcoming blog post: Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Perfect. And not only did that verse come to mind immediately when I needed it, but I somehow recited it by memory, when I'm not really the best at remembering verses by heart! Ok, I know it probably helped that I had just read it shortly before, but still! For me, that is pretty good and I know it was a "God thing" that He provided me with that Scripture verse to comfort her in her time of anxiety. I love it when things like this happen and they happen to me all the time, but I've found that the more frequently I'm in the Word, the more they happen. I don't think that is a coincidence. So anyway, after I shared the verse with her, I told her to follow what it says by telling God about her fears and worries and He promises to give her His peace and guard her heart and mind from all her fears and bad dreams.

And thankfully, that story leads me to the final Step #3: MEMORIZE IT! "Hiding" God's Word in your heart through memorizing verses that are meaningful and powerful to you is the single most effective way to battle spiritual attacks, flee temptations, share the Gospel, bless others with His Word, and be strengthened and comforted in a time of need. When you put God's Word in your memory bank, it will amaze you how many times in your life that the Holy Spirit will bring a certain verse or verses to your mind to help you or someone you are trying to help.

As we start the new year, consider setting a goal for yourself to memorize a new Bible verse or passage each month, week, or even (for the really ambitious go-getters) each day! To help you do this, in my next post I will show you, with photos and step-by-step instructions (yes, I'm really starting to get into this whole blog thing!), what I do to memorize Scripture. And let me again remind you that this is not one of my strong points. Give me a new song and I will know it by heart in a day or less, but anything that's not set to music, oy! So I need lots of help in this area and I can't wait to show you what I've found so helpful that really works for me!

May God bless you as you seek to take in more of His Word!

In Christ,

Suzy

My New Year's Resolution: Spend More Time with God - Part 1

2012-01-02T16:41:00.005-05:00

Excerpts from Psalm 119:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
~vs. 9-11

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
~vs. 15-16

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
~v. 18

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
~v. 28

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

~vs. 92-93

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
~v. 105

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
~v. 133

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

~v. 172

God's Words to Read: Psalm 119

If you didn't already know it, today's Bible passage to read happens to be the longest chapter in the Bible, with a whopping 176 verses. Ok, I know what you're probably thinking to yourself right now: "For goodness sake, why does she want me to read that much for today's devotion when it's a Monday and I have a ton of things to do today?!" But I promise you it will be well worth your time, for I consider this chapter to be a passionate (albeit very long) love poem for God's Word and it's full of wonderful verses to inspire and motivate you to spend more time in the Bible. So, perhaps sit down in your favorite comfy chair, grab a cup of coffee (or water, if you're trying to give up caffeine as one of your New Year's resolutions!) and take a few extra minutes today to enjoy this beautiful passage of Scripture! Just as a side note: Please keep in mind as you read this chapter (if you're reading the NIV like I am, that is) that the word translated "law" does not just mean "rules", but the Hebrew meaning for this word also expresses the totality of God's written instructions, His Word. So as I read in the Bible about God's "law", "precepts", "statutes", "decrees" and "commands", etc., I take these words to be synonymous with the entirety of His Word, the Bible.

There. That wasn't so bad, was it? What verse or verses really stuck out to you as something you feel God is trying to teach you? The verses listed at the beginning of this devotion are the ones that made the biggest impression on me today of how I am to love God's Word and why it is so beneficial to spend time reading it, meditating on it (which means really reflecting on and pondering over), and especially "hiding it in my heart" by memorizing it.

Well, as we begin a new year, it's a good time to start cultivating (or at least make an honest attempt at!) new, good habits. Like many people, my most typical new year attempted-habit is making more of a concerted effort to exercise regularly. I always aim for at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week on my treadmill, plus some strength training and toning exercises mixed in. However, depending on the busyness of each week, I might let a workout (or two-ugh) fall to the wayside. I hate it when I do this to myself, because I know it's not the best for me to not get enough exercise. I am healthier in every way when I meet my exercise goals for the week - not only physically, but also emotionally. My stress-level is significantly reduced and I simply feel more confident. But like I said, if I get "too busy" and let other activities (and yes, that may even include blog writing!) take priority over my exercise regimen, it has a detrimental affect on my overall health.

I try to look at consistent Bible study in the same way I view the importance of regular exercise. Just as we all need to exercise on a regular basis to maintain optimal physical and emotional health, we all need to take care of our spiritual health, too. In order to be healthy spiritually, maintaining a close relationship with the Lord, I really need to be in His Word daily, thinking about how to apply what I read to my life and praying for Him to show me how and help me to do this. But whenever I allow the busyness of daily life or even fun distractions (like reading my latest novel or spending time on facebook and Pinterest!) to take precedence over my Bible study time and prayer, it seems to have a negative impact on every area of my life. I am not exaggerating about this. When I choose - and yes, it's a choice I purposefully make - to put other things before spending time with God through prayer and reading His Word, I find I don't end up having as good a day as I could have had. What do I mean by this? Well, I might be more on the "grumpy-side" emotionally as I go throughout my day. I'm probably not as patient, loving or wise as I should be in dealing with the people I have contact with. Any bad things that happen seem to upset, overwhelm or worry me more than they would have if I had centered my focus for the day on Christ and truly desiring to follow Him and please Him in all I do and say.

But on my "better days" when I put God first by talking to Him in prayer throughout the day and mulling over a Bible verse or passage (even if it means doing this while trying to force myself out of bed in the morning, throwing in a load of laundry or getting dressed for the day!), things just seem to go much more smoothly. I feel much more at peace and happier and that I can handle whatever the day brings, with Christ at the center of my thoughts.

In the next few posts, I will share advice, tips, books and website links that I have found helpful in staying spiritually healthy. I think that just reading today's enormous Bible passage and then this blog post is enough for today!!! I can't wait to share with my readers what has helped me grow closer to the Lord and maintain the "good habit" of consistent Bible study and prayer. Until then, Happy New Year 2012!!

A few more Bible verses about studying God's Word (just in case you're not tired of reading yet, haha):

~Jeremiah 29:13

~Joshua 1:8

~2 Timothy 3:16-17

~James 1:22-25

In Christ,

Suzy

Moms Need Vacations Too!

2011-11-28T10:02:00.001-05:00

God's Words:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
~Mark 6:30-32

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

~Matthew 11:28-30

As I write this morning I am thoroughly, completely, TOTALLY enjoying the peace of a quiet home. How on earth did I manage to get my home to be so silent and peaceful on a Monday morning, of all mornings? When it is typically rather loud around here at most hours of the day with giggling, rough-housing, questions, interruptions, mess-making, fighting, whining, tattletaling, yelling (ok, that's where I come in), and MORE NOISE AND COMMOTION THAN I CAN SOMETIMES HANDLE! Well, the answer is simple. I am on vacation from being a mom. Albeit a less-than-24-hour-long-mini-vacation, but I'll take it and so far I have savored every - single - second! Since we homeschool, we have the luxury to be able to take days off whenever we really need them. And this teacher mom needs a break, thank you very much!

Now please don't get me wrong; I LOVE my children more than life itself. I always wanted to get married and be a mother more than any other dream I've ever had and I'm so thankful to the Lord for giving me these desires of my heart. I LOVE being a stay-at-home mom. I have learned (yes, learned - I didn't really enjoy it much at first!) to also LOVE being a homeschool mom, which means being with my kids almost 24/7. I LOVE each of my children's personalities and that I have the privilege of daily watching them grow and develop into the people God wants them to be. I LOVE the funny, sweet things they say and do. But I also happen to LOVE quiet alone time. And quite frankly, once in a while, my dear, sweet, precious little gifts from God DRIVE ME ABSOLUTELY BONKERS, BATTY, AND UP THE WALL! I'm ashamed to admit (even though it's kind of funny and we all laugh about it afterwards) I have often told my little lambs when I've reached my mothering limit, that they are "driving me to the point of insanity!!!" At times like this, when I have just simply had it with their boisterous shenanigans, I may also be guilty of quoting Scripture completely out of context in my distress, such as "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." (Psalm 55:6) Or "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” (Job 3:26) Or even, and this is my most often used favorite, "O Lord, be my help." (Psalm 30:10b)

I have found that some people mistakenly assume that homeschooling mothers, or mothers with many children (I personally classify this as any number greater than what I have, which is three!), have an extra measure of patience to be able to handle the mothering responsibilities they've been given/taken on. Nope. I've talked to many a homeschool mom and "mom of many", and the large majority of us struggle to develop and maintain patience, just like everyone else in all of humanity. For me, personally, to be able to get through each day having the patience and gentleness to be the nurturing, wise mother God wants me to be, I daily need to look to Him to provide the grace and strength to do so. He is always faithful and gives me what I stand in need of when I ask!

Yet, every once in a while I get to the point when I just really need a vacation from my 24/7 (yeah, that's right, that's much more than "full-time"!) job as a mom. In most other jobs that pay actual money, employees get regular breaks throughout the work day or shift. They also get vacation time each year, as well as holidays off. Well, I need a break, ok? I want a vacation, too!! Do you as a mother ever get to that point of longing for a time of quiet, peace and rest from your demanding, never-ending job as a mom?

I have all kinds of "mom friends". ALL of my mom friends juggle much more than just their mothering duties. A lot of my mom friends work full or part-time. A lot of my mom friends "stay at home", which in my opinion is just as much of a sacrifice as working outside the home. I am getting to know more and more homeschool moms, among which are quite a few that also hold down regular jobs on top of homeschooling, which is at least a part-time job in itself! I have a number of mom friends with infants, toddlers and preschoolers (now THAT is an exhausting phase in life!!!). Some of my mom friends (and these are my personal heroes) are single parents and have to do all the parenting by themselves! I also have quite a few "grandmother friends" who give up much of their time each week to help watch and care for their grandchildren. My own mother and mother-in-law are two of these amazingly wonderful grandmas! I seriously do not know how I would survive my time of mothering young children if I did not have these two selfless, loving women in my life who drop pretty much anything else they have going on to baby-sit my kids whenever I need it. Actually, that is where my children are at this very time - at my mother's house. Yesterday I was desperately needing a break and my mom and dad willingly (and always very excitedly) took my kids overnight on very short notice. THANK YOU, MOM!!! (She reads my blog)

Maybe you don't have any nearby relatives who can take your kids off your hands for a while so you can enjoy a quiet time of rest. But I advise you to do what you can, in your situation, whatever it may be, to give yourself "time off" from parenting once in a while when you're getting run down and weary. It's such an exhausting job! Do you have any close friends with whom you could "swap children" on a regular basis to give each other a break? Or maybe find it in your budget to hire a baby-sitter to come and take over for a few hours every so often so you can get away. Away! Oh, to get away!! That sounds horrible, doesn't it? But really, don't we all need a break sometimes? If none of these ways work out for you, then just turn on a long, age-appropriate of course, movie for the kids and escape to another room for some quiet time working on a hobby you love or even a hot bubble bath!

God doesn't want you to get weary and exhausted from your labors of love as a mother. He knows we are only human and need rest and our burdens lifted. So don't forget the next time you've had it and need some peace and quiet - listen to Jesus saying to you, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." and "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Call on Him for rest and peace and He will be faithful to provide a respite for your weary soul, even if it means locking yourself in the - you know - bathroom!

Most of the time, all it takes for me to be totally revived and refreshed in my calling and duties as a mother is to have a few hours to myself of quiet, peace and rest. Then I'm ready to once again take on the noise, the commotion and the boisterous activity of my very high-spirited, sometimes mischievous youngsters! I hope and pray that you will find a time for rest and rejuvenation when you're needing it most this week!

In Christ,

Suzy

3 Ways to EnCOURAGE Your Kids

2011-11-15T09:09:00.000-05:00

God's Words to Read:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

~1 Thessalonians 5:11

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

~1 Thessalonians 5:14

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

~2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I'm sure you've noticed before that the word "courage" is found in the word "encourage". According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of the word "encourage" is: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

Sometimes our children might feel timid about trying something new. Perhaps they have become discouraged about finishing a commitment or furthering a pursuit they began because it has proven difficult for them. Or maybe they are faced with a problem that seems impossible to overcome.

Here are 3 ways we mothers can step in and inspire our children with courage and hope:

1. Build up their confidence in how uniquely God created them.

Many times the reason we lack courage in doing something is because we don't have enough confidence in ourselves. Where does our confidence really come from? Just from knowing what other people think about us? For sure, that definitely helps! But I also believe that our confidence should come, first and foremost, from knowing that God created us with very special gifts, talents and abilities unique to each of us. Help your children recognize the unique gift set that God has blessed them with. God gave them these abilities for important purposes that He has planned for them! He wants them to develop their talents and abilities so they will succeed in making the most of what He has given them.

Here is a parable Jesus told to teach us how God wants us to use the talents and gifts He has blessed us with (and this story is actually where the term "talent", referring to a special gifted ability, comes from!):

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

~Matthew 25:14-30

Yes, sometimes developing our talents and abilities can be very hard work! But so worth it in the long run!! As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect"! So help your children set a future vision or goal concerning a certain ability they are trying to cultivate. Maybe "seeing" what end result they hope to attain will encourage them to keep on keeping on, even when the going gets tough!

2. Teach them to look to God for encouragement and strength.

But what if your child is not gifted in a certain area? Or what if they are struggling with how to handle a problem they are facing? Guide them to look to God as the #1 Source for encouragement in life (see again part of today's key verses, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.

~Romans 15:4-5

The Lord also promises to give us the strength we need to deal with any challenges that come our way, if we seek Him for it.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:29-31

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions,in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

~Philippians 4:13

So if our children happen to be weak in a certain area or are struggling through a tough time, God promises to give them His strength and power to endure, prevail, and even overcome the obstacles they face!

3. Advise them to choose encouraging friends.

Do your children have friends that make an effort to build them up and help them be the best they can be? We should guide our children in surrounding themselves with encouraging friends. Even having just one good friend like this is enough to make a big difference in your child's life! I pray for God to bring encouraging friends into my children's lives. When I observe one of their buddies having a positive influence on them, I make a point of fostering that friendship in any way I can. On the other hand, we can also try to steer our kids away from "friends" that don't have such a good influence on them. I often tell my kids that "a true friend wants the best for you and will help bring out the best in you."

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

~1 Corinthians 15:33

A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

~Proverbs 18:24

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I hope these words and truths from Scripture have enCOURAGEd you as you seek to be an enCOURAGE-ing mother. Your children will be blessed by your efforts to inspire them with courage, hope and spirit!

In Christ,

Suzy

A Devotional Blog for Mothers

2011-11-04T14:41:00.002-04:00

Hi, my name is Suzy and I am very excited about my first blog! According to the calendar, I am turning 34 on November 7, although I still feel 28 (wonder how much longer that will last??). So to celebrate my birthday this year, I decided to finally get a start on one of my life goals, which is to write a devotional for mothers. I want this devotional blog to be a place where all mothers - from new mothers to GRANDmothers - can find encouragement and be built up through God's Word to carry out the mothering roles and duties God has called them to. This includes step-mothers, "working moms", "stay-at-home moms", homeschooling moms, empty nester moms, and really anyone with a mothering role!

In this first post, I would like to take the extra time to introduce the theme of my blog. Hopefully, my future posts won't be as long and time-consuming to read! I really aim to keep them short and readable in less than 10 minutes; especially since we mothers have so little time in our day to sit down, let alone read a super-long devotional! In each post I will share a Bible passage that you can look up in your own Bible, followed by whatever thoughts and message I feel God showing me personally in that passage. I encourage you to write down in a journal what you feel God is showing you as you read His Word. And always feel free to share with me these thoughts in the Comments section below! I would love to read what God shows you through the same passages we explore together! My hope and prayer is that here you will find pleasant words to uplift and bless you, so that in turn, you may be better equipped to uplift and bless others.

As mothers, we have the extremely important responsibility of training our children, step-children and grandchildren in doing what is right. We can be much more effective in this endeavor if we speak to them with pleasant words, as opposed to unpleasant words (yelling, complaining, harsh criticisms, etc.). It is a well-known fact that people respond better, even while being criticized or reprimanded, if they are spoken to in a positive, respectful, loving way. Therefore, I have named my blog "Pleasant Words" after Proverbs 16:21, a verse that God has used to speak to me many, many times in the past few years. To better instruct my children, God wants me to use pleasant words. Not only when I am instructing them in how to do something, such as baking cookies or making their beds, but also in teaching them moral lessons. I have made this verse my homeschool motto. I have it written in green pen (to match my green window coverings, of course!) on a 3x5 card, taped to the side of the cupboard in front of my kitchen sink (where I spend countless minutes a day), so that it will be a frequent reminder of how God wants me to talk.

But why has God put this verse so heavily on my heart, you may ask? Well, everyone has good and bad personality qualities, right? Unfortunately, one of my worst qualities, against which I struggle daily, is that I often say whatever is on my mind at the time. I speak before I think. I stick my foot in my mouth frequently. I complain out loud a lot. I can have a sharp tongue when someone upsets me, annoys me, or if I just happen to be in a bad mood. Maybe you struggle with an impulsive tongue, too.

Since committing my life to Christ at the age of 19, the Holy Spirit has been working a great deal on this part of my personality, shaping me to be more like Him. God's best for us is not to let us stay bogged down by our sin nature. He wants us to seek Him for grace and strength to overcome our weaknesses. Just because my natural tendency is to speak impulsively, this does not give me an excuse for that behavior. Only I can control what comes out of my mouth! As James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers (and sisters!), this should not be." God wants only positive, kind, loving, respectful, edifying, encouraging words to come out of our mouths. Words of praise for Him and for others. Words of thankfulness, not complaining and grumbling. Words to build others up, not tear them down.

Have you ever read the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman? It's a life-changing book which I highly recommend. One of the main 5 love languages is that of Words of Affirmation. We can effectively and positively impact others in our lives by showing love in how we speak to them. Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). How do we like to be spoken to? With put-downs and jabs and complaints? Or with words that make us feel loved, respected and accepted for who we are? We can shine our light in a dark world, showing Christ's love to everyone we have contact with, simply by speaking loving words. Oh, it's so powerful! So simple! Yet, it can be so hard!!!

How many times in your life has your mood and attitude been brought down by someone else's bad attitude or mood? I read once that the wife and/or mother sets the mood for the rest of the family. Whenever I'm in a good mood, it rubs off on everyone else. And when I'm in a bad mood, complaining and letting my sharp, impulsive tongue get out of control, then everyone's mood goes downhill and fast! We mothers need to daily remind ourselves to set a good mood for the rest of our family. So for today, read James 3:1-12. Pray that God will open your heart to how He wants you to control your tongue in order to bless others and be blessed. Then, by His grace and strength, you can be a woman who speaks pleasant words.

In Christ,

Suzy